The average monthly Social Security benefit today is only a little more than $2,000. Granted, you may have a larger monthly benefit coming your way if you earn above-average wages. But Social Security is also facing the possibility of benefit cuts in the future. So before you start counting on getting your money in full, you may want to have a backup plan. A lot of people enter retirement feeling optimistic about their prospects, only to realize that they don't have nearly as much income as they need to cov ...