These days, when friends gather, there's often a conversation that comes up.

"Can our generation really retire?" is the question.

As I hit my mid-30s, discussions about real estate, pensions, and investments have become as natural as snacks at a drinking party.

"It turns out there are more people retiring without social security than you might think."

I paid my taxes diligently and worked hard, but no pension? I was curious, so I looked it up.

If something suddenly happens and I can't work for a long time, can't build credit, and can't receive a pension... how am I supposed to live?

So, I researched it myself. What does it really mean to retire without a pension?

The first thing that comes up is SSI, which stands for Supplemental Security Income.

As the name suggests, it's a minimal living support system for elderly or disabled individuals without income.

As of 2025, the maximum monthly amount for a single person is $943.

Wow, that's it. Living a month on less than $1,000? Plus, you can't have assets over $2,000.

It really has to be a complete 'zero base.'

The only consolation is that if you receive SSI, you can also get Medicaid, so hospital bills are almost non-existent.

Medical fees, prescription costs, and such are all covered, so as long as you take care of your health, you won't be spending money. But this is somewhat different from "not getting sick."

It just means you can worry less about hospital bills, but it's not at all about living with dignity in old age.

And then there's SNAP. What we commonly refer to as 'food stamps.'

About $300 a month, which is supposed to be enough to buy food at the grocery store... Honestly, everyone knows that a single grocery trip can easily cost $150 in your 30s.

To stretch that money for a month, I'd probably have to rotate between ramen, eggs, and frozen vegetables.

Next is the Section 8 Housing Voucher. It's a program that reduces rent for low-income individuals.

You only pay 30% of your income, and the government covers the rest, but the problem is there are too many applicants.

It can take years just to wait. There's even a saying that "you might not receive it until you die."

In addition, there are subsidies for electricity and gas, free bus passes, free cell phone programs, and so on... There are many benefits available if you become 'extremely poor.'

If I were to do nothing from now and turn 65?

Let's say I get SSI $943 + SNAP $200 + government-assisted housing with a monthly rent of $300...

Then my fixed monthly income would be $943 + $200 = $1,143.

After paying $300 in rent, I'd have to live on $843 for the month.

But with that money, I can't buy clothes, I don't have a car, I can't even buy coffee, and it's hard to get birthday gifts for family, not to mention I can't go out anywhere except for medical appointments...

In short, "survival is possible, but there is no life" is the perfect phrase.

While writing this, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

We usually mistake pensions for 'money that just comes out.'

But in reality, only those who have worked for over 10 years and consistently reported income can receive it.

Being self-employed, working for cash, or having gaps in your career due to childbirth and childcare... all of these create 'holes' in pension credits.

I'm still in my 30s, but I can't ignore the future anymore.

I feel the urge to start increasing my savings right away,

and when I turn 65, I should at least be able to afford "a coffee now and then" in my old age, right?

That's not such a big dream, is it?