Although it's a program that's out of sight and out of mind for decades of our lives, Social Security is, unquestionably, our nation's most successful social program.
According to surveys conducted earlier this year by national pollster Gallup, 89% of current retirees are leaning on their Social Security benefit as a "major" or "minor" source of income in their golden years. As for nonretirees, 84% expect to rely on their Social Security income to some degree to make ends meet in retirement.