An indication the rising economy is not lifting all boats is the fact that, despite a roaring stock market and a greater number of available jobs, the number of people looking to Social Security as a means of financial support during retirement is growing. Gallup said in a statement that "a comparison of combined data from the 2014–15 surveys and combined data from the 2005–2006 surveys shows at least modest increases in expected reliance on Social Security among nonretirees in all age and income groups."

While the increases were smaller among the age and income groups who were already most likely to say they'd be depending on it, the increases were greater among those who earlier might have said they weren't going to depend on it. For instance, among those aged 18–34, just 13 percent said they'd expect Social Security to be a major source of income for them at retirement when they were asked in the 2005 and 2006 surveys. However, the results of the 2014–15 surveys indicated that that number had doubled, rising to 26 percent.

Of course, that doesn't mean people have forgotten about 401(k)s and IRAs as a major source of income; 49 percent said those accounts were where the bulk of their retirement money would come from. However, that number has fallen from its all-time high in 2001, before the dot-com bust, when 58 percent said such accounts would be their major source of income. In 2008 the number hit 54 percent, but dropped to 42 percent during the financial crisis and still hasn't regained even that much lost ground.

In addition, the percentage of those expecting to rely on part-time work in retirement to provide a major source of income has risen.

Among the retired, 59 percent say Social Security is providing a major source of income, and pension plans come in second at 36 percent. IRAs and 401(k)s, and home equity, have provided the third and fourth most common sources.