Staying Fit
Social Security provides benefits to more than 67 million people, and those monthly payments have an enormous impact on older Americans’ financial health. According to Census Bureau data:
• Social Security accounts for at least 50 percent of income for more than half of households headed by someone 65 or older.
• It provides nearly 80 percent of income for 1 in 5 such households.
• It keeps nearly 29 million people from falling below the poverty line.
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
An institution that looms so large in American life is bound to generate questions about what it does and how it works. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Social Security. You'll find more detailed information on these and many more issues in AARP's Social Security Resource Center.
1. Is Social Security just for retired workers?
No. As of November 2023, about three-quarters of beneficiaries were retirees. The remainder were spouses, ex-spouses and children of retirees (3.8 percent); people with disabilities and their families (12.7 percent); and survivors of deceased beneficiaries (8.7 percent).
More on Social Security
Social Security, Retirement, Social Security Benefits
How is Social Security funded?
Should You Take That Early Retirement Offer...