Social Security's money problems hangs heavily over the future of retirees, leaving many politicians and industry watchdogs to worry if the nation will see a growing number of old, poor people without the resources to pay for even the basics of life.

Statistics paint a picture of millions of senior citizens forced to live in poverty after their working years end. But congressional gridlock prevents any action that would allow Social Security benefits to remain at promised levels despite evidence of broad public support for changes.

"I fear that if we look at this 30 years down the road, it will look very different. So much of the work we've done over the last century with Social Security and Medicare will be undone," said Diane Oakley, executive director of the National Institute on Retirement Security, a nonprofit research and education organization based in Washington, D.C.