Your Life Expectancy and Your Social Security

By Justin Stakes

by Dr. Gary Welton

Grove City, PA -(AmmoLand.com)- According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy in the United States is the longest ever, approaching 79 years.

This was highlighted in the recent Time cover story, “This Baby Could Live to Be 142 Years Old.” With very few exceptions—such as the flu pandemic of 1918, which caused the life expectancy to temporarily plummet by a dozen years—our life expectancy has continued with a positive trend line throughout our nation’s history.

During my lifetime, life expectancy has increased from 70 to almost 79. In 1960, when life expectancy was 70, full retirement age for Social Security was 65. Therefore, on average, it was necessary for Social Security benefits to be able to fund five years of retirement. Now, as life expectancy approaches 79, full retirement age has increased to 67. Hence, on average, it will now be necessary for Social Security benefits to fund 12 years of retirement.

Social Security has been labeled the “third rail of American politics.” This label, …read more

Source:: AmmoLand