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As 2026 Opens, Experts Urge Americans Not to Rely on Social Security for Retirement

Benefits typically replace roughly 40% of pre-retirement income, with the average check near $2,008 a month.

Overview

  • Dave Ramsey highlighted an EBRI finding that 35% of workers expect Social Security to be a major income source and warned that heavy reliance is risky.
  • New and recent data underscore weak personal saving, with Ramsey Solutions reporting 42% of Americans aren’t saving and the Fed showing only 54.4% of families had retirement accounts in 2022.
  • A DepositAccounts survey reports 59% of non-retired Americans worry benefits may not be available by the time they retire.
  • Kiplinger advises that “old rules” no longer fit a landscape shaped by longer lifespans and higher health and housing costs, while Ramit Sethi argues legacy advice from popular gurus is outdated for younger workers.
  • On The Ramsey Show, hosts urged a near-retiree with minimal savings to avoid borrowing against her home, seek flexible part-time remote work, and apply for SSI, which averages roughly $718 a month and about $764 for someone age 63.