More than 51 million retired workers received a Social Security check in June. For a majority of these retirees, this check represents a financial lifeline they can't live without.

For 23 years, national pollster Gallup has been conducting annual surveys to gauge retired workers' reliance on Social Security income. In 2024, just 11% of respondents noted that their Social Security check wasn't necessary to make ends meet. Since 2002, between 80% and 90% of retirees have consistently told Gallup that they rely on their monthly payout to cover at least some portion of their expenses.

In other words, getting as much as possible out of Social Security isn't just a nice perk -- it's a necessity for most current and future retirees.

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Source Fool.com