Many retirees have a house with a paid-off mortgage that they would sell before moving, so Social Security would just need to support their living expenses. The

Many retirees have a house with a paid-off mortgage that they would sell before moving, so Social Security would just need to support their living expenses. They also have a 401(k) or pension if they took advantage of those programs. Social Security is a (very effective) program designed to prevent senior poverty, not to pay for a high-end lifestyle.