Making It Work: How Retirees Survive on Social Security Alone

The nonprofit advocacy group The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) estimates that 24.6 million seniors in the U.S., or 44% of the country's retirement-age population, depend on Social Security benefits for 100% of their income. That's up from 39% in 2025. With 54% of those seniors living on less than $2,000 per month, the spotlight is on how aging Americans get by.

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The average cost of living for an older household -- including housing, food, and healthcare in retirement -- is $3,161. Of that, $662 is typically spent on food, and $650 is spent on healthcare.

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