What this article fails to mention are the government entitlements that go to low-income seniors ... food stamps worth about $200/mo for individuals;  Medicare/Medicaid worth about $500/mo;  housing subsidies worth $200 to $1,000/mo;  free phones and nearly free internet ($9.95/mo Comcast Essentials);  utility assistance;  free hot meals through various programs (Americorps is one).  Indeed, some counties offer free periodic housekeeping to frail or handicapped seniors.  So, Social Security income becomes livable.  Heck, if you are frugal enough, perhaps you could scrape enough together to take an ocean cruise.