4 Social Security mistakes that hurt retirement benefits

Published 6 Min Read

Older people looking at their finances

Diversity is key when it comes to generating income in retirement, advisers say. But across the board, one source of income reigns supreme for a majority of retirees: Social Security.

Nine out of 10 retirees receive income from Social Security, and more than half say it will be their main source of support for the rest of their retirement, according to the Transamerica Institute. As of July, nearly 56 million Americans were receiving retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration, with the average retired worker receiving just over $2,000 a month in benefits.

Elijah Nicholson-Messmer
Former Data Reporter

Elijah returned to Financial Planning in 2025 after working as a summer intern with FP in 2023. He earned an undergraduate degree from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, and a master's degree in data … Read full bio


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