Some old bag who retired 20 years ago and is still alive has done well off the system -- she has gotten back far more than she and her late husband paid into it. Not that she appreciates this fact. Social Security originally was not a pension, but merely a little something to prevent complete destitution. It paid little but took little out a worker's paycheck, leaving him with more money to save and invest for himself. As with every government program, it expanded steadily (e.g., Disability was added in 1950) and only become a pension program in the 1970s.
People retiring now aren't profiting as much off of Social Security (they paid higher rates in SS taxes) and as for the baby boomers, such as myself, we're getting hosed. Back in the late 90s, someone (Alan Greenspan, I think) said that a person born in 1960 could expect a 1.8% return on her Social Security. She would do better sticking the money into a CD account, even with today's low interest rates.
BTW She is from a generation that appreciates SS a great deal more than today generation. And I would not call her an "old bag". Have more respect.