I'm 46, but my age should make no difference. Social security is going to be broke before I retire. The only way to protect my benefits is to put them into a private account where Washington can't touch them.
you have to get something for the 20 years you have worked and paid SS. assuming you plan to work for 15+ more years, you would opt into the private account and in exchange, would draw some lowered amount from the SS fund you have paid into for 20 years. You can't walk away from SS with nothing, but you can walk away with a lower amount in exchange for your ability to divert some current and future contributions into your private account.
you are caught in the middle given your age - you have to be able to drink from both sides of the well.