Yes SS was never meant to be your sole support, Pensions, IRA's, owning your home, and savings should also be a part of the picture.

My last manager just retired at 76, he has both a military pension, police pension, and SS. His GF he lives with owns their home free and clear and must earn substantially, because she will be receiving 4,000 SS when she retires, along with a pension.

In my case, I only had low-end jobs most of my life and had saved all along by working OT, PT, and even 2 FT jobs quite often. 9 years ago I had 2 rental condos and the one I lived in all paid. Then I got remarried 15 years ago and slowly changed my plans. I sold off 2 of the 3 and moved abroad, I was only 59 and built a home and lived on savings.

Returning to the USA just in times to vote in 2020 and sign up for SS, I resumed work. I worked as much as possible in 22,23,24 and SS reclaimed 4,000 the first year, send me a bill for 11,800 the next year, and held 6,000 of my SS the third.

However, I bumped off 3 low earnings years and received almost 8% that compounds with the COLA in increases, and the 2025 year won't show up until Dec. if I bumped off a 4th year.

I won't be bumping off a 5th because I'm now only working PT for half each year. I work as a security guard and when I was FT it was overnights in office buildings. Its almost like having a living room. I spent most of that time here, learning about stacking metals, and singing practice. PT is mixed use 1st or second shift, and I get 5 or so miles of walking in.

Here in Nashville, security starts around 18 bucks an hour, and if you live in a large metro, I recommend looking into security PT 20 hours a week earns me about 80% of my SS. In Orlando, I saw convention security companies even using people in wheelchairs.

So Seniors got the crap end of the stick unless they work OT or for tips, but you can't depend on the Government to solve your financial problems.