When Social Security started in 1935, life expectancy at birth was around 60 for men and 64 for women, significantly lower than today, but this average was skewed by high infant mortality; life expectancy for those reaching adulthood was much higher, closer to the 65 retirement age, meaning people were expected to live long enough to receive benefits, though often for fewer years than today.
When Social Security was enacted in the 1930s, life expectancy at birth was 62 years and the retirement age was 65.
According to the article, when the first Social Security benefits checks were sent out in 1940, life expectancy was 61.4 years for men and 65.7 years for women. Today, life expectancy for someone born in 1959 is 74 for men and 80.1 for women, Dr.
An American male who turned 62 in early 2025 has an average life expectancy of 83.6, according to the Social Security calculator. In other words, he's likely to live another 21.6 years. A woman with that birthday can expect to live 86.5 years.
Prior to Social Security, the main strategy for providing economic security to the elderly, in the face of the demographic changes discussed above, was to provide various forms of old-age "pensions." These were welfare programs, eligibility for which was based on proof of financial need.
On January 31, 1940, the first monthly retirement check was issued to Ida May Fuller of Ludlow, Vermont, in the amount of $22.54. Miss Fuller, a Legal Secretary, retired in November 1939. She started collecting benefits in January 1940 at age 65 and lived to be 100 years old, dying in 1975.
In 1965, when Medicare was established, a 65-year-old man could expect to live another 12.9 years, on average, and a 65-year-old woman another 16.3 years. Since then, life expectancy for 65-year-olds has risen by more than four years—to 18.2 years for men and 20.7 years for women.
Wealthy Americans live longer than the working class.
People living in the top 1% of counties ranked by median household income live an average of 84.3 years, while people living in the bottom 50% of counties ranked by median household income live an average of 77.4 years – a difference of 7 years.
Roughly 7% to 9% of American households have $500,000 or more in retirement savings, though figures vary slightly by source, with data from late 2025 suggesting around 7.2% and older 2022 data indicating about 9%, showing it's a significant milestone achieved by less than one in ten families, despite higher averages driven by wealthy individuals.
The first encounters began about 8000 generations ago in the Paleolithic era when approximately 75% of deaths were caused by infection, including diarrheal diseases that resulted in dehydration and starvation. Life expectancy was approximately 33 years of age.
Thankfully, relaxation can curb those hormonal spikes to support longevity. The good news: Relaxation can make a real difference by curbing stress hormones and ultimately supporting longevity.
No single group holds exactly 90% of the wealth globally or in the U.S., but the top 10% of adults globally hold about 85% of the world's wealth, while the bottom 90% hold only 15%, showing extreme concentration; in the U.S., the top 1% owns roughly as much wealth as the bottom 90% combined, with the wealthiest 10% holding about two-thirds of the nation's wealth.
Recent evidence indicates that the major causes of death contributing to years of life lost below age 50 between the US and an average of 17 other OECD countries among women were non-communicable diseases, perinatal conditions, transport injuries and non-transport injuries(38, 66).
So we can observe that for men, for example, almost 54% of the them could expect to live to age 65 if they survived to age 21, and men who attained age 65 could expect to collect Social Security benefits for almost 13 years (and the numbers are even higher for women).
While exact recent figures vary, roughly 20-30% of the U.S. population dies before age 70, with significant differences between sexes, as men experience higher premature death rates, though these percentages have dropped dramatically over time due to better healthcare. For instance, in 2015, about 20% of people were expected to die before 70, while global data shows a significant decline in premature deaths, notesScienceNorway.
To collect a monthly retirement benefit, a worker must pay into the system, via Social Security taxes levied on work earnings, for at least 10 years (which do not need to be consecutive). Strict rules ensure that only workers who have met this requirement are able to collect retirement benefits.
Monthly Payments for Surviving Spouses
You may receive 100% of your loved one's benefit if you're at full retirement age or older. If you're between 60 and full retirement age, you may qualify for 71.5% to 99% of the SSDI benefit.
To receive the full State Pension you must have paid 35 years of NI contributions. If you have never worked, and therefore never paid NI, you may still be eligible for the State Pension if you have received certain state benefits, for example carer's allowance or Universal Credit.