Around 22 million seniors (or about 27-40%, depending on the study) rely on Social Security as their sole source of income, but a much larger portion, nearly three-quarters, depend on it for at least half of their total income, highlighting its crucial role as a financial safety net, though often insufficient for comfortable living. Recent estimates from the Senior Citizens League (TSCL) place the number living on Social Security alone at 21.8 million, while data from 2021 shows around 16.4 million people (27%) used it as their only income source, according to Pew Research.
Living on Social Security alone is not only possible, but many retirees already accomplish that very feat every year. While the lifestyle associated with Social Security income isn't exactly luxurious, it doesn't have to equal rice and beans for the rest of your life, either.
A plurality of older Americans, 40.2 percent, only receive income from Social Security in retirement. Roughly equal numbers of older Americans receive income from defined benefit pensions as from defined contribution plans.
Yes, it can. If you live in your own place and pay your own shelter costs, regardless of whether you own or rent, you may get up to the maximum SSI amount payable in your State. You may also get up to the maximum if you live in someone else's household as long as you pay your shelter costs.
The most reliable, up-to-date data about older adults who live alone comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to its 2023 Current Population Survey, about 28% of people 65 and older live by themselves, including slightly fewer than 6 million men and slightly more than 10 million women.
More seniors are living by themselves for a variety of reasons including that people are living longer, there are rising rates of divorce, smaller families, and more geographic dispersion of families.
The percentage of Americans reporting no close friendships increased from 12% in 2021 to 17% in 2024.
Generally, your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you can't work. Benefits won't necessarily continue indefinitely.
As long as your income comes from an acceptable source, it shouldn't prevent you from getting approved for a mortgage. If you receive Social Security income, you can use it to qualify for a mortgage.
Surveys have found that the number of Americans without retirement savings is between 20% and 46%.
It's a striking finding given that nearly 22 million seniors are estimated to live on Social Security alone, according to a June 2025 study from The Senior Citizens League.
The $1,000 a month rule is a retirement guideline suggesting you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 per month in desired income, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate (5% of $240k is $12k/year, or $1k/month). It's a simple way to set savings goals, but it doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or other income like Social Security, so it's best used as a starting point, not a complete plan.
According to the June 2025 Social Security trustees report, the fund reserves that help pay for Social Security benefits will be depleted in 2033. Benefits won't run out, but retirees would then only be able to receive 77% of their full benefits.
Key takeaways
Social Security is a federal program that provides income to retirees, survivors of deceased workers and disabled people. The average Social Security check for retirees is around $2,000 per month — slightly higher than the average benefit for survivors and people with disabilities.
If you receive SSI, you will not continue to receive benefits while you are abroad. If you are outside of the US for more than 30 days your SSI benefit will stop. SSI benefits will restart once you return to the US and remain in the country for more than 30 days.
Yes, you can generally collect U.S. Social Security benefits while living in most other countries, especially if you're a U.S. citizen, though restrictions apply for non-citizens and some countries have sanctions (like Cuba, North Korea) or specific rules, requiring you to use the SSA's Payments Abroad Screening Tool to check your eligibility and report your foreign residence to avoid benefit suspension. U.S. citizens can usually receive payments indefinitely, but non-citizens might need to be physically in the U.S. for certain periods, and you'll still need to meet eligibility credits and potentially handle foreign taxes.
Studies suggest that friendships lasting over 7 years are likely to last a lifetime. Psychologists explain that long-term friends develop stronger trust, shared experiences, and emotional resilience that help them withstand distance, disagreements, and life changes.
52 million U.S. adults struggle with feelings of loneliness, a critical public health issue. Globally, nearly 1 in 4 adults report regular feelings of loneliness, with 24% feeling fairly lonely. In Brazil, 50% of surveyed adults report loneliness, the highest among countries evaluated.