On the 78th anniversary of Social Security, benefits have become increasingly more important as Americans struggle with growing debt, dwindling pensions and higher health costs.

Social Security provides an average monthly retirement benefit of $1,233 for more than 184,000 Hawaii residents 65 years and older, AARP Hawaii said.

On Aug. 14, 1935, during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act.

"In the years since … it has become the foundation of retirement security in America, lifting tens of millions of seniors, as well as widows, children and people with disabilities, out of poverty," AARP said in a statement, marking the anniversary. "Declining pensions, inadequate savings, shrinking home values, and a difficult job market mean that the promise of Social Security will become increasingly important as today’s workers approach retirement."

In Hawaii, Social Security payments accounted for 32 percent of the median income for all seniors. Without Social Security the percentage of seniors living in poverty in Hawaii would grow to 25 percent from 8 percent now.

In total the program provided $3.3 billion in benefits to Hawaii residents in 2012, including $2.7 billion in benefits to those age 65 and older.