I’m 71, was badly injured in a crash in '90, so have been on social security disability since then w/ a switch to social security retirement when I turned 66. It all pays the same.
My bitch about it is that the cost of living increases were a joke until the last one. More and more I could afford less and less. My 'frisco apt in the 80’s was $350 w/ all uts paid. Now its nearly $3,000. W/ deposit, 1st mo rent and credit checks, you would need $10,000 to move in.
I’m pretty recovered from the old injuries, and yes, lots of hurts. Pain in hands from arthritis, nephropathy in them from bad streets beating them up on my eBike, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. The meds help w/ the BP and cholesterol. Otherwise, my mind is still sharp, vision is good enough to use manual focus film cameras, hearing is good (except for tinnitus).
All the health issues are a management game. I eat right, stay active, and don’t aggravate existing problems. Very happy to be alive and in the here and now. There are a few perks. Half price for transit passes, food discounts, senior housing that is cheaper, sorta.
We have more wisdom because we made so many mistakes. Just about the time we get everything figured out, we die. Ain’t that just life though?