And that's up to them. If they want to live a very basic life in retirement that they can afford on just SS income, then that's their choice. The point of a safety net is making sure that no one is stuck living on the streets in retirement, because they just become an even bigger burden on society in that case.No, it SHOULD be a safety net. How many millions in this country use it as a retirement account?
They get the same safety net that everyone else gets. That's not a "penalty."And should those who planned ahead and don't need that SS money be penalized for their forethought?