Initially, when Mary Lou Blakeney began collecting her Social Security benefits 18 months ago, it meant extra money for dining out, concerts, plays and traveling.

That abruptly changed a few months ago when the retired nurse and her husband of 38 years separated, and decided to divorce. Now, the 67-year-old who lives in High Point, N.C., uses her social security money to pay for life’s basics such as food, utilities, medicine and trips to the doctor.