@Setanta,
I've been collecting for 18 years now. My estimate of total cash benefits thus far is $138,144. I once had a log on how much I paid into social security, and learned that my social security and medicare benefit far exceeded what I paid into the system. Just on Medicare alone, I had kidney problems, and the healthcare I got at the hospital for about two weeks was amazing. My out of pocket cost was a little over $100/day. Not only all the doctors and RNs, but techs were all first class. We're lucky because Kaiser Hospital is just one block away from where we live.
i also draw on my savings at $2,000/month (less taxes), so my income is a little over $3,000/month that includes my social security, but I have no fixed expenses. My wife pays for all household expenses, and for food and restaurant.
So, you can say I'm living high off the hog.