Social Security is one of the most important—and most trusted—government programs in the United States. Every month, about 69 million Americans receive a Social Security payment, with more than 61 million of them getting retirement payments they or their spouse or parent earned by paying into the system throughout their working lives. The other 8 million receive disability payments from Social Security. Created in 1935, Social Security has been a steady source of income for nearly 90 years, helping people cover basic costs as they age.

Social Security matters now more than ever. Many people are living longer, and that means retirement savings need to stretch further. But many older adults are worried—about 3 in 5 people over 50 say they’re concerned they won’t have enough money to feel financially secure in retirement. And only a third believe they’ll be okay if they keep saving at their current pace. That’s where Social Security comes in: it provides a lifetime payment that helps millions of Americans stay afloat, even when personal savings fall short.

In fact, many older adults expect to rely heavily on Social Security. Fifty-seven percent of adults age 50 and older said they either relied or planned to rely substantially on Social Security in retirement. Another 32% said they would somewhat rely on it. AARP analysis of adults age 65 plus show just how vital Social Security is:

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of people 65+ live in families that rely on Social Security for at least half of their income

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of people 65+ rely on it for at least 90% of their income

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of Black Americans 65+ rely on Social Security for at least 90% of their income, compared to 24% of Hispanic Americans, 19% of White Americans, and 15% of Asian Americans

It’s important to understand that older Americans don’t just depend on Social Security—they value it deeply. More than 9 in 10 adults over 50 (93%) believe Social Security helps older adults stay independent and avoid relying on their children or family. And they don’t see these payments as a handout—they see Social Security as something they’ve earned through a lifetime of work.

Given people’s attitude towards Social Security and the role it plays in the lives of older adults, it’s no surprise that 85% of adults 50 and older believe Social Security is one of the most important government programs — a number that’s grown almost 10 percentage points since 2005.

Below are a some resources to help you learn about Social Security.

Understanding Your Social Security: Four Questions

Older Americans overwhelmingly recognize the value of Social Security—and they generally feel positive about it. They’re also familiar with Social Security. In fact, almost 9 in 10 adults over 50 (85%) say they have at least some knowledge of how it works. But even with such high familiarity, people still have a number of questions they need answered. Four pressing questions we continue to hear about are:

1. How much can I expect to receive from Social Security?
2. When should I claim Social Security?
3. How do I navigate the Social Security Administration?
4. How do I get up-to-date information on Social Security?

Knowing how much you’ll get from Social Security is a big part of planning for retirement. For some people, Social Security is just one piece of the puzzle, alongside pensions, 401(k)s, or other savings. For others, it may be the only source of income. Either way, understanding your expected Social Security income helps shape how you plan to live in your later years.

But many people don’t fully understand how their Social Security payments are calculated. More than half of adults 50 and older (52%) say they have little or no knowledge of how payments are determined. And nearly three in four (72%) want to learn more. Recent AARP research has put a number on the size of the gaps in understanding:

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of older adults don’t know that the earliest age to claim is 62

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know that waiting past age 67 increases the monthly payment

Most people don’t know that the full Social Security retirement payment is based on the top 35 years of earnings

For people with spouses, it’s also important to understand how spousal payments work because that can impact available funds in retirement. Unfortunately, most older adults (63%) don’t know whether living spouses are eligible for Social Security payments. The majority mistakenly believe dependent spouses are only eligible for Social Security payments after their spouse dies. Missing out on these earned payments can be costly.

Understanding how Social Security payments are determined is crucial to understanding how much you can expect to get in retirement. And knowing this will allow for better overall retirement planning. Below are several resources to help you understand how much Social Security you may be able to get in retirement.

Perhaps the most important thing to understand about Social Security is that the amount you can expect to receive is heavily dependent on the age that you claim. While it’s generally best to wait as long as possible to maximize the payment, this may not always be the case. For example, some people may be unable to work and need access to income immediately. Others may be very ill and not expect the extended life horizon that is necessary to justify waiting to claim.

We also know that many people have different goals when it comes to claiming Social Security. For example:

For those aiming to get the highest possible payment, waiting to claim and working more years at higher earnings can make a big difference. But for others—especially those who need income sooner—knowing that they can start claiming at 62 is just as important.

Below are several resources to help you determine the best time to claim your Social Security payments.

Understanding how to interact with the Social Security Administration is a significant challenge for many older adults. Luckily, the Social Security Administration offers several ways to get help—online, by phone, and in person. While it’s not required, creating an account on the mySSA portal can be especially helpful. It allows users to apply for payments, update personal information, and avoid long wait times often associated with phone calls or office visits.

Before claiming payments, many older adults seek out information to help them decide when and how to proceed. In addition to the wealth of resources offered by AARP, many people turn to the Social Security Administration as well as their family and friends for advice.

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of adults 50-plus used the SSA to learn about payments and timing

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turned to friends and family for advice

While personal networks can be helpful, relying on them alone can be risky—Social Security rules are complex, and well-meaning advice from others may not always be accurate or up to date.

When it’s time to apply to claim their Social Security, most people use a mix of resources. In addition to support from organizations such as AARP, nearly two-thirds of those currently receiving Social Security retirement payments (65%) visited the Social Security Administration website during the application process. At the same time, almost half of those receiving payments called the Social Security Administration (48%) or visited a local office in person (42%) during the application process. These multiple touchpoints show that while digital tools are gaining ground, many still value the reassurance of speaking with someone directly.

Below are several resources to help you navigate interactions with the Social Security Administration.

In recent months, government leaders have been discussing a variety of potential changes at the Social Security Administration. While most of these changes haven’t been implemented, the extensive public discussion about them has created a sense of confusion in many Americans. And the changes that have been implemented are often complex, and many people don’t know whether they will be affected. For example, Congress recently rolled back the WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset), two provisions which reduced the Social Security payments for people that also receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security. But many people are unsure whether the WEP/GPO rollback will affect their Social Security payments and what they need to do if it will.

In addition to changes at the Social Security Administration, people also need to find information on potential changes to their Social Security payments such as the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA). There’s also an interest in understanding the long-term health of Social Security, including the status of the Social Security Trust Funds, which help cover Social Security payments.

In addition to the Social Security Administration’s website, there are other trusted resources to get up-to-date information on changes to Social Security and the Social Security Administration. Below are resources people can use to ensure they understand what’s happening and how it affects them.

Protecting Social Security for the Future

Outside of better understanding Social Security for their own needs, Americans are also interested in seeing Social Security survive for future generations. Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement security, but it requires action by Congress in the next 8 years to remain strong for future generations. During the 65 years AARP has been fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security, our nation’s leaders from both parties have supported it. Now more than ever, we need our political leaders to speak out to celebrate Social Security and ensure it’s there, not only for older Americans today but for our kids and grandkids tomorrow.

Social Security is mainly funded through payroll taxes paid by most American workers. For years, it brought in more money than it paid out, building up a planned reserve in its trust funds. But that changed after 2021. As more baby boomers retire and the number of people receiving Social Security grows, Social Security has started utilizing its reserves to keep up with payments. According to current estimates, those trust funds could run out within the next decade, leading to a reduction in payments unless Congress acts. The good news is that Social Security funding still allows for 80% of payments, meaning Congress only needs to close a 20% gap, something they can and will do. While many older Americans worry that Social Security won’t be there when they need it most, it is important to note that AARP will fight to ensure Social Security delivers the money Americans have earned through a lifetime of hard work.

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of adults over 50 are worried that Social Security won’t be able to maintain current payment levels in the future

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are concerned Social Security won’t be there at all when they need it

Older Americans aren’t just worried—they’re calling for action. There’s overwhelming agreement that lawmakers need to work together to protect Social Security for current and future retirees:

The message is clear: Americans 50 and older expect elected officials to take responsibility and fix the problem. For many, Social Security isn’t just a policy issue. It’s personal.

Below are several resources to help you further understand the issues facing Social Security and what you can do to help protect it.