Yes, you probably are, because you are a hardworking conservative!
I started looking into it because my husband was adamant he’d work until 67 to ‘max out his Social Security.’ I found out he’s only maxing out his payments in, not what he receives! Those that work the hardest and pay the most in get the least return on their dollar.
So I started looking at what l’d get and it made no sense. I only worked 1/3 of the number of years he did, and made about the same amount he did for those first years - but would get 1/2 of his SS payment. So for working 3 times as long and paying in much more in those latter years due to promotions, he only netted a 100% increase over my measly contribution.
So I looked at the real calculations to get the story, not just the online calculators. That minimum payment showed up. AND one spouse is also eligible for half of their spouse’s payment - even if they never paid in a penny. Those two giveaways affect a lot of people!
Sorry to make you madder about the unfairness of SS on such a beautiful day! This, along with an unethical boss and a job dealing with the fascism if big government, convinced hubby to go Galt.
It gets even crazier. If you are married for at least ten years, even if you divorce, the surviving spouse gets the deceased spouses social security if it is higher.
So a guy who marries a bride who isn’t even a citizen and is married to her for at least ten years gets his social security. I think if he had two wives, one divorced and one still alive and married to him, BOTH wives get his social security - even if neither of them paid in a dime.
When social security was first enacted it was supposed to be a safety net, not a pension. It was supposed to be voluntary too.