Without Social Security, millions of Americans would be living below the poverty line. With it, many don't -- even though the average monthly retirement benefit of $1,975 (as of December) is not all that huge.

This Social Security Fairness Act checklist explains what public sector retirees can expect from SSFA, including how much more money they might receive.

Baby Boomers are currently between the ages of 61 and 79. Many people within this age group are already receiving Social Security while a good number have yet to claim their benefits. For those who have retired,

Tens of millions of Americans rely on Social Security benefits for a substantial portion of their retirement income. Not only is Social Security a valuable source of retirement income, with the average retired worker receiving about $1,975 per month, but it is also the only inflation-protected source of income many retirees have.