German armies used the Skull & Cross bones many times. In the image above we see the Totenkopf, a German word for the deathmanÂ´s head. This is an old symbol of momenti mori. It consists usually of the skull and the mandible of the human skeleton.
You generally need to work for 10 years to qualify for benefits (unless youâre receiving benefits through a spouse -- see How Spouses Can Maximize Social Security Benefits for more information). The maximum earnings that count toward your benefit are $118,500 in 2015.
The average retirement benefit check is currently $1,305.30, according to government figures. This is by far the the smallest percentage increase of any year in which benefits did rise. But it's better than 2016, when Social Security checks didn't increase at all. There have only been three years without any increase at all since Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment was put in place in 1975 -- 2010, 2011 and 2016.