Here's the Average Social Security Benefit at Ages 62 to 80
Key Points
The average monthly benefit at age 70 is $2,274.68, which is $850.28 higher than the average benefit for a 62-year-old.
Typical senior households spend $61,432 annually, leaving a shortfall of $34,135.84 even for those receiving the peak average benefit at age 70.
The 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment that took effect in 2027 adds about $82 a month to the age-70 average benefit.
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Social Security is supplemental income for the vast majority of retirees. The monthly amount you collect depends heavily on the age you choose to start your benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) bases your benefit on an average of your wages across your 35 highest-earning years, which are adjusted for inflation and run through a specific formula to determine your checks.
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What retirees collect from age 62 to 80
Here is the average monthly retired-worker benefit by age, as of December 2025, the most recent data available.
| Age | Overall | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | $1,424.40 | $1,572.83 | $1,285.50 |
| 63 | $1,435.81 | $1,580.81 | $1,300.20 |
| 64 | $1,478.00 | $1,624.93 | $1,342.07 |
| 65 | $1,607.27 | $1,772.00 | $1,457.40 |
| 66 | $1,807.28 | $1,998.75 | $1,629.09 |
| 67 | $2,016.48 | $2,234.41 | $1,801.82 |
| 68 | $2,052.64 | $2,272.40 | $1,836.58 |
| 69 | $2,096.95 | $2,321.96 | $1,876.96 |
| 70 | $2,274.68 | $2,529.62 | $2,024.08 |
| 71 | $2,247.76 | $2,494.57 | $2,006.83 |
| 72 | $2,205.21 | $2,432.49 | $1,981.87 |
| 73 | $2,207.96 | $2,437.40 | $1,983.67 |
| 74 | $2,178.87 | $2,401.64 | $1,962.42 |
| 75 | $2,144.88 | $2,358.96 | $1,937.42 |
| 76 | $2,157.21 | $2,373.40 | $1,949.26 |
| 77 | $2,170.80 | $2,391.89 | $1,959.06 |
| 78 | $2,140.16 | $2,352.82 | $1,936.04 |
| 79 | $2,155.77 | $2,374.04 | $1,947.29 |
| 80 | $2,106.29 | $2,309.85 | $1,912.67 |
Why the averages peak and plateau
The data reveal a 59.7% increase in average benefits between ages 62 and 70. The average monthly benefit at age 70 is $850.28 higher than at age 62, resulting in an annual gap of $10,203.36. This occurs because claiming at 62 can reduce benefits by 30%, while delaying until 70 earns credits worth 8% per year.
Averages slightly decline for retirees in their late 70s. This isn't a benefit cut for individuals, but a shift in who is included in the data. Older groups likely include more people who claimed early at permanent reductions.
Women make up a larger share of the oldest age groups because they live longer. At age 70, the average benefit is $2,529.62 for men and $2,024.08 for women, a gap of about $505.54 per month. This difference often reflects the gender pay gap or time spent out of the workforce for caregiving.
Even at the age-70 peak, the average annual benefit of $27,296.16 falls well short of senior needs. Typical senior households spend about $61,432 annually, according to the 2024 BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, leaving a shortfall of $34,135.84. Social Security was designed to replace only 40% of pre-retirement income.
A 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will take effect in 2027. It will add about $82 per month to the average benefit at age 70.
The most useful benchmark for your situation is the row corresponding to your planned claiming age, not the overall peak.
For more on how Social Security affects your retirement, see this guide.
How will you cover what Social Security doesn't?
Regardless of when you claim, you will likely need other income sources to cover your retirement costs. The sooner you begin planning for this, the better your odds of retiring comfortably.
Most people supplement their Social Security checks with personal savings. If you have a 401(k) with a match through your job, this is a great place to begin. Or you could save in an IRA on your own.
Some workers may also qualify for a pension, though these are less common than in the past. If you are eligible for one, it may give you a monthly benefit just like Social Security.
Others choose to maintain a part-time job in retirement to supplement their Social Security benefits. It's also possible to rely upon more than one of the sources above. Think about what makes the most sense for you, and start putting together a plan.
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