Social Security in the United States today is being used in a way that was never intended, very different from the way it was intended, with more than 33 percent of retirees using the funds as their main source of income. (“A lot” paragraph 1). Although the government providing a substantial income to seniors seems like a good thing and a real generosity, the funds are drying up faster each year. They are expected to run out by 2033, but at a faster rate than expected; in 2011, the funds were to contribute to the elderly until 2036 (“Social” para 2). Today's young people are therefore wondering whether they will be able to receive Social Security retirement benefits when they reach age 62, the age at which partial benefits first become available to citizens (Tannahill 28) . They could have the opportunity to save independently for retirement, unlike citizens nearing retirement today, only 12 percent of whom had more than $1 million saved for retirement ("A Lot" paragraph 3) . To calculate Social Security, the government follows a very specific method. procedure. First, a citizen's income is acquired and analyzed by noting their highest 35 years of earnings not exceeding $113,700 before they reach age 60. Then the total of all these incomes is divided by the 420 months of those 35 years (Tannahill 27) and entered into a formula that typically averages about 44 percent of the calculated monthly average (Diamond 99). This is then generally the general amount of money the citizen receives each month after retirement until death from Social Security. The citizen can choose to begin receiving partial benefits of the 44 percent at age 62 or full benefits at age 66 (Tannahill 28). It is then expected that the help...... middle of paper ......ebscohost.com.gatekeeper2.lindenwood.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=875742a5-b3d4-428e-8fc5-7b9baca8c9dc % 40sessionmgr113&vid=4&hid=106>.Pino, Ariel and Juan Yermo. “The impact of the 2007-2009 crisis on social security and private pension funds: a threat to their financial solidity? International Social Security Review 63.2 (2010): 5-30. Commercial source completed. Internet. March 11, 2014. .Tannahill, Bruce A. “Social Security Retirement Benefits – The Basics.” Journal of Financial Services Professionals 67.6 (2013): 27-30. Premier Business Source. Internet. March 7. 2014. .