When Social Security was started, it was expected that most people would never collect their benefits. The male life expectancy was LESS THAN the full retirement age.
Most people certainly weren't supposed to be collecting benefits for DECADES.
Social Security says that my life expectancy is now about 82. That means, theoretically, I'll be collecting my benefits for 20 years. As will most other males my age.
Not that I need it, of course. I planned for my retirement such that anything I DID get from Social Security was just "gravy".
Some would claim that means that I shouldn't even GET my Social Security.
'eff 'em.