that was due to high child mortality which wouldn’t effect ss payments.
For those who reached age 65: A person reaching 65 in 1935 could expect to live an additional 12 to 14 years, reaching an average age of about 77 to 79.
It wasn’t just child mortality. An 18 year old was only expected to make it to 66. Life expectancy for a 40 year old man was just 29 years, meaning they wouldn’t see 70. Today a man who makes it to 40 should reach 77. A 65 year old past 82.