For most workers, Social Security replaces only part of pre-retirement income. The Social Security Administration has long estimated that figure at around 40% for an average earner, and less for higher earners. That gap is why most retirement guidance treats Social Security as one leg of a retirement income stool, alongside a 401(k) or IRA, personal savings, and, for some, a pension. The video below looks at whether a Social Security check alone is enough to live on.

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