Social Security provides the majority of retirement income for most Americans. Here’s exactly what people receive by state, age, and situation.
Average Social Security Benefit (2026)
| Beneficiary Type | Monthly Benefit | Annual Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Retired workers (average) | $1,976 | $23,712 |
| Retired workers (maximum at 67) | $3,822 | $45,864 |
| Retired workers (maximum at 70) | $4,873 | $58,476 |
| Couples (both receiving) | $3,326 | $39,912 |
| Disabled workers | $1,537 | $18,444 |
| Widow(er)s | $1,773 | $21,276 |
| Spouse benefits (non-working) | $900 | $10,800 |
| Children of retired/disabled | $758 | $9,096 |
| SSI (Supplemental Security Income) | $943 | $11,316 |
See how your savings can grow with our compound interest calculator to see how the numbers apply to your situation. Open calculator
Average Social Security by State
| Rank | State | Avg. Monthly Benefit | Avg. Annual Benefit | vs. National Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $2,228 | $26,736 | +13% |
| 2 | Connecticut | $2,215 | $26,580 | +12% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $2,195 | $26,340 | +11% |
| 4 | Maryland | $2,180 | $26,160 | +10% |
| 5 | Michigan | $2,168 | $26,016 | +10% |
| 6 | Washington | $2,155 | $25,860 | +9% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $2,142 | $25,704 | +8% |
| 8 | Minnesota | $2,130 | $25,560 | +8% |
| 9 | Delaware | $2,118 | $25,416 | +7% |
| 10 | Indiana | $2,105 | $25,260 | +7% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $2,092 | $25,104 | +6% |
| 12 | Ohio | $2,082 | $24,984 | +5% |
| 13 | Virginia | $2,070 | $24,840 | +5% |
| 14 | Illinois | $2,058 | $24,696 | +4% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $2,045 | $24,540 | +3% |
| — | National Average | $1,976 | $23,712 | Baseline |
| 36 | New Mexico | $1,890 | $22,680 | -4% |
| 37 | Montana | $1,880 | $22,560 | -5% |
| 38 | South Dakota | $1,870 | $22,440 | -5% |
| 39 | West Virginia | $1,860 | $22,320 | -6% |
| 40 | Idaho | $1,850 | $22,200 | -6% |
| 41 | North Dakota | $1,840 | $22,080 | -7% |
| 42 | Kentucky | $1,830 | $21,960 | -7% |
| 43 | Alabama | $1,820 | $21,840 | -8% |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $1,810 | $21,720 | -8% |
| 45 | South Carolina | $1,800 | $21,600 | -9% |
| 46 | Maine | $1,790 | $21,480 | -9% |
| 47 | Arkansas | $1,780 | $21,360 | -10% |
| 48 | Louisiana | $1,770 | $21,240 | -10% |
| 49 | Hawaii | $1,760 | $21,120 | -11% |
| 50 | Mississippi | $1,685 | $20,220 | -15% |
See also:Average 401(k) Balance by Age (2026 Data)·Average 401(k) Contribution Rate by Age & Income (2026)·Average 401(k) Employer Match in 2026: How Much Companies Contribute
Social Security Benefit by Claiming Age
| Claiming Age | % of Full Benefit | Monthly Benefit (Avg. Earner) | Lifetime Total (Live to 85) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 70% | $1,383 | $382,068 |
| 63 | 75% | $1,482 | $390,288 |
| 64 | 80% | $1,581 | $398,412 |
| 65 | 86.7% | $1,713 | $411,120 |
| 66 | 93.3% | $1,844 | $420,432 |
| 67 (FRA) | 100% | $1,976 | $426,816 |
| 68 | 108% | $2,134 | $435,336 |
| 69 | 116% | $2,292 | $439,248 |
| 70 | 124% | $2,450 | $441,000 |
Delaying from 62 to 70 increases your monthly benefit by 77% and maximizes lifetime benefits if you live past 82.
Social Security Replacement Rate
How much of your pre-retirement income Social Security replaces:
| Pre-Retirement Annual Income | Annual SS Benefit | Replacement Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $17,040 | 57% |
| $50,000 | $21,600 | 43% |
| $75,000 | $26,400 | 35% |
| $100,000 | $30,000 | 30% |
| $150,000 | $34,800 | 23% |
| $168,600+ (SS max taxable) | $45,864 (max at FRA) | 27% or less |
Lower-income workers get a higher replacement rate. Higher earners need proportionally more savings.
Social Security Dependence by State
| State | Retirees Relying on SS for 50%+ of Income | Avg. Retirement Income (All Sources) |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 72% | $35,000 |
| West Virginia | 68% | $38,000 |
| Arkansas | 67% | $37,000 |
| Alabama | 65% | $39,000 |
| Louisiana | 64% | $40,000 |
| National Average | 50% | $55,000 |
| Massachusetts | 35% | $72,000 |
| New Jersey | 34% | $75,000 |
| Hawaii | 33% | $70,000 |
| Connecticut | 32% | $78,000 |
| Maryland | 31% | $76,000 |
Social Security Trust Fund Status
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current trust fund balance (2025) | ~$2.7 trillion |
| Projected depletion year | 2033 |
| After depletion: benefit reduction | 77% of promised benefits payable |
| Annual shortfall (after depletion) | ~23% of benefits |
| Payroll tax rate (employee + employer) | 12.4% (6.2% each) |
| Income subject to SS tax | Up to $168,600 (2025) |
| Workers per beneficiary (1960) | 5.1 |
| Workers per beneficiary (2024) | 2.7 |
| Workers per beneficiary (2035 projected) | 2.3 |
Proposed Fixes
| Proposal | Projected Impact |
|---|---|
| Raise payroll tax to 14.8% | Solves ~62% of shortfall |
| Remove cap on taxable earnings ($168,600) | Solves ~70% of shortfall |
| Raise full retirement age to 69 | Solves ~30% of shortfall |
| Reduce COLA by 0.5% annually | Solves ~25% of shortfall |
| Means-test benefits (reduce for wealthy) | Solves ~15% of shortfall |
| Combination of small changes | Can close 100% of gap |
States That Tax Social Security
| Status | States |
|---|---|
| No state income tax (SS not taxed) | AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY |
| Have income tax but exempt SS | AL, AZ, AR, CA, DE, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, VA, WI |
| Tax Social Security (some/all) | CO, CT, KS, MN, MT, NE, NM, RI, UT, VT, WV |
Most states don’t tax Social Security. Only 11 states still tax some or all SS benefits (many with income-based exemptions).
How to Maximize Your Social Security
| Strategy | Potential Impact |
|---|---|
| Work at least 35 years | Avoid $0 years in calculation |
| Earn above SS cap in top 35 years | Maximizes Average Indexed Monthly Earnings |
| Delay claiming to 70 | +77% more than claiming at 62 |
| Spousal benefits (lower earner) | Up to 50% of higher earner’s benefit |
| File and suspend strategy | Coordinate for maximum couple benefit |
| Minimize SS taxes (keep income low) | Up to 85% of SS can be taxed |
| Check your statement at ssa.gov | Verify earnings history annually |