I was thinking more about social security is non-contributory, a safety net if you have nothing. They could do away with that tomorrow.
Retirement pension, in theory, is paid for and is proportionate to your contributions. We pay in to a government guaranteed scheme.
I realise, with an aging population, present day pensioners are being paid by those currently in work, as their contributions were used a while ago.
I think it the government reneged on contributory state pension, they'd be as well declaring the country bankrupt.