2. (1) Every wage earner covered under the Social Security Act pays a tax, the employer also pays a tax, which is equal
to that paid by the employee. (2) The amount that one can expect to receive each month in old-age insurance benefits
depends on one's average monthly earnings. (3) Also, the size of the benefits depends on the number of years one has
worked. (4) If a person retires at 65, the monthly benefits are greater than if he or she retires at 62. (5) These benefits are
a retirement annuity. (6) In other words, they are paid to the wage eamer from the date of retirement to the time he or she
dies. (7) In addition, when a wage earner dies, Social Security provides payments to his or her spouse, to dependent
parents, and to children until they are about 18 years of age (21 if they are in school). (8) Further, payments are made to
a wage earner (and dependents) if he or she is totally disabled and unable to work.
The implied main idea of the selection is
a. Social Security pays retirement annuities, which are paid to the wage earner from the date of retirement until
death.
b. Both wage earners and employers make payments to Social Security.
c. The government makes direct payments to various individuals and institutions.
d. A complicated set of rules governs the funding and payment of Social Security.