Yet, because of the Social Security retirement earnings test, the system withholds benefits from over 800, 000 older working Americans, and discourages countless more no one knows how many from actually seeking work.

FORBES: A Small Step Toward Reforming Social Security

Raising salaries or making legislators full-time isn't politically popular, so lawmakers instead arrange the pension system to provide greater benefits in retirement.

WSJ: State Politicians and the Public Pension Cookie Jar

The commission's draft report warned that the federal retirement system will begin paying out more in benefits than it receives in taxes in 2016.

CNN: Bush won't raise Social Security payroll limit