Faces of Social Security: Cindy Sturgeon

I am one of seven children. Our father died when we were between the ages of 4 and 12. Benefits to our mother started at $232 a month in 1966. Insurance covered our home and vehicle, so we survived.

Cindy Sturgeon, 50, Louisiana. — Photo by Jose Mandojana

We lived off our acre of land, raising chickens, milk cows, pigs and vegetables. That, and Social Security, sustained us. I became a registered nurse. We contribute to Social Security, and it's comforting to know that if my husband were to pass away before my son finished high school, we too would benefit from it. We are the generation that has lost millions to stock market crashes, and the cost of living keeps going up. My prayer is that Social Security will continue to provide the assistance it was created to provide.

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