[Steve_Seattle]

"One problem they have is no SS, as they were cash only, their whole lives, so they have to scramble when they get old and feeble and can no longer work."

Yeah, that's a real problem. I don't think most of those guys have retirement planning skills, so a lot of them may be destitute when they get old. Not that SS is a huge bonanza, but it's probably enough to keep you off the street unless you live in a place with high housing costs.

[VanShuyten]

My sister found out the hard way. After a lifetime of being a housewife and mom, she got a divorce because her husband found god in the form of a crazy, hot Jesus freak. She gets alimony, but can’t qualify for Medicare until her ex starts taking SS. She went bankrupt a couple of times for medical reasons, and now is caught between getting a real job or qualifying for Medicaid.