[ghaff]

$1400 is average. Assuming a decent professional salary and depending on when you retire, it could be closer to $2,000-$3,000.

But of course your basic point stands. Absent a separate defined-benefit pension (which still exist from older jobs in some cases), SS is fairly minimal by itself even if you own a house.

[sokoloff]

Thanks for the data on the top of range.

You are though, by definition, taking away an average benefit from those who would retire to give to parents, so I think average is the right reference figure when contemplating "what would the parental benefit be if funded from social security delays?"