Here's the Average Woman's Social Security Benefit by Age
Key Points
The average benefit among women is $1,872.43 per month, which is $409.85 less than the $2,282.28 average for men.
A 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment in 2027 will add about $73 a month to the $2,024.08 average benefit for a 70-year-old woman.
Women who are age 65 today are expected to live about 21 more years, which is longer than the 18 more years expected for men.
- Motley Fool Issues Rare "Total Conviction" Buy Alert ›
Social Security benefits for women average less than those for men across every age group. This report lays out the specific dollar amounts as of December 2025, the most recent data available, to show the current size of that gap.
The average benefit among women is $1,872.43 per month, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). That figure is $409.85 lower than the $2,282.28 average monthly benefit for men.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Image source: Getty Images.
How benefits compare for women and men
The table below shows the average monthly payments for retirees aged 62 to 70. These figures reflect the amounts as of December 2025 and illustrate the consistent difference in checks between men and women.
| Age | Women's average | Men's average |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | $1,285.50 | $1,572.83 |
| 63 | $1,300.20 | $1,580.81 |
| 64 | $1,342.07 | $1,624.93 |
| 65 | $1,457.40 | $1,772.00 |
| 66 | $1,629.09 | $1,998.75 |
| 67 | $1,801.82 | $2,234.41 |
| 68 | $1,836.58 | $2,272.40 |
| 69 | $1,876.96 | $2,321.96 |
| 70 | $2,024.08 | $2,529.62 |
The impact of earnings and longevity
The SSA bases your benefit on an average of your wages across your highest-earning 35 years. It adjusts those earlier wages for inflation and runs the results through the primary insurance amount (PIA) formula. The persistent gap in benefit amounts between men and women reflects historical differences in lifetime earnings and fewer years spent in the paid workforce.
These payments are designed to replace only about 40% of your pre-retirement income, which is well short of what most retirees need to cover their costs.
Full retirement age (FRA) ranges from 66 to 67, depending on your birth year, and it's 67 for everyone born in 1960 or later. Workers who claim at 62 accept a reduction in their monthly check, while those who wait until 70 earn delayed retirement credits worth 8% per year.
While women receive lower average monthly checks, those benefits typically have to stretch over a longer period. A woman who is 65 today is expected to live about 21 more years, compared to about 18 more years for a man, according to the SSA. This means the average woman needs her retirement income to last roughly three years longer than the average man.
A 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will take effect in 2027 to help these checks keep pace with inflation. For a 70-year-old woman receiving the average $2,024.08 benefit, that adjustment adds about $73 per month to that figure. The dollar gap is widest at the oldest ages in the table, and spousal and survivor benefits are part of the picture for many women.
Spousal and survivor benefits could be worth more
The above information focuses on benefits for retired workers, but many women claim spousal or survivor benefits based on their partner's work records instead. This could give them more money than they'd qualify for on their own.
Spousal benefits are the benefits you're eligible for on your partner's work record while they're still alive. They're worth up to one-half of the amount your partner qualifies for at their FRA. You will only be able to receive this amount once your spouse is claiming their retirement benefits.
Survivor benefits are the benefits you're eligible for on your partner's work record after they pass away. These are worth up to 100% of the amount your spouse was eligible for or receiving at the time of their death. You will only get this amount if it's larger than your own retirement benefit.
Contact the Social Security Administration to learn more about whether you qualify for these benefits and how much they could be worth to you.
For more on how Social Security affects your retirement, see this guide.
The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income.
One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these strategies.
View the "Social Security secrets" »
The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Recommended Articles
