I really know nothing about how they figure out how much the checks are. I just know that it's a big program and that it's administered by the Soc. Sec. admin. I have heard it discussed a few times on the local talk radio shows, when the various programs come up. I know that with Soc. Sec. you do have to have sufficient quarters worked in order to receive SS checks or disability checks. We get statements every year or so with a listing of quarters worked and annual earnings. I actually found it a little amusing to see how little I earned when I was working part time during college, and my summer jobs, when I was 18-22. Minimum wage in those days was pretty minimum.
That's another discussion, but I get really burned about the hand-wringing over minimum wage. Who expects to earn only the minimum wage all their lives and try to live on it? It was pretty obvious to me at the get-go that the MW was an entry level wage - you can certainly work your way up, learn some marketable skills, be reliable and hard-working, and you can expect to do far better than the MW. Geeze.
Yep about MW. I'm still paying off my grad school loans because even my undergrad degree didn't get me far enough. When I was 15 1/2 and got my first non-babysitting/yard sale/pamphlet giver type job at Pier 39, I was thrilled. I think that's the only time I technically worked MW though I definitely had some low income jobs.