Social Security provides the majority of retirement income for most Americans. Here’s what people receive by state, age, and situation, based on the SSA’s national 2026 benefit figures.
For a full claiming strategy, benefit formulas, and planning checklist, start with the Social Security master guide.
Average Social Security Benefit (2026)
| Beneficiary Type | Monthly Benefit | Annual Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Retired workers (average, all ages) | $2,071 | $24,852 |
| Retired workers (maximum at 67/FRA) | $4,152 | $49,824 |
| Retired workers (maximum at 70) | $5,181 | $62,172 |
| Couples (both receiving) | ~$3,208 | ~$38,496 |
| Disabled workers (average) | $1,586 | $19,032 |
| Widow(er)s (aged surviving spouse, average) | ~$1,919 | ~$23,028 |
| SSI federal payment standard (individual) | $994 | $11,928 |
Source: SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet figures (January 2026, after the 2.8% COLA) and the 2026 maximums; SSI from SSA’s 2026 determinations.
Average Social Security by State
These are the Social Security Administration’s own figures: average monthly benefit for retired workers and disabled workers in each state in December 2024, the latest state data SSA has published (calculated from total benefits paid divided by the number of beneficiaries in SSA’s OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024). The “with 2025–2026 COLAs” column applies the 2.5% and 2.8% cost-of-living increases as a rough update; actual 2026 state averages will differ slightly because new retirees join and others leave the rolls.
| Rank | State | Avg. Retired-Worker Benefit (Dec 2024) | With 2025–2026 COLAs (approx.) | Avg. Disabled-Worker Benefit (Dec 2024) | Retired Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $2,196 | ~$2,314 | $1,649 | 582,671 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $2,190 | ~$2,308 | $1,763 | 1,358,286 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $2,184 | ~$2,301 | $1,629 | 265,404 |
| 4 | Delaware | $2,171 | ~$2,288 | $1,723 | 198,391 |
| 5 | Maryland | $2,140 | ~$2,255 | $1,645 | 856,554 |
| 6 | Washington | $2,099 | ~$2,212 | $1,593 | 1,173,685 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $2,095 | ~$2,208 | $1,573 | 918,937 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $2,084 | ~$2,196 | $1,588 | 1,031,409 |
| 9 | Michigan | $2,066 | ~$2,177 | $1,604 | 1,736,413 |
| 10 | Utah | $2,065 | ~$2,176 | $1,564 | 358,396 |
| 11 | Virginia | $2,064 | ~$2,175 | $1,600 | 1,290,319 |
| 12 | Kansas | $2,055 | ~$2,165 | $1,526 | 461,786 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $2,052 | ~$2,162 | $1,593 | 2,255,780 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $2,050 | ~$2,160 | $1,561 | 183,329 |
| 15 | Vermont | $2,040 | ~$2,150 | $1,490 | 127,704 |
| 16 | Colorado | $2,037 | ~$2,146 | $1,595 | 791,895 |
| 17 | Indiana | $2,034 | ~$2,143 | $1,570 | 1,071,434 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $2,028 | ~$2,137 | $1,557 | 1,077,180 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $2,024 | ~$2,133 | $1,576 | 102,068 |
| 20 | Arizona | $2,020 | ~$2,128 | $1,645 | 1,212,252 |
| 21 | New York | $2,018 | ~$2,126 | $1,650 | 2,908,411 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $2,011 | ~$2,119 | $1,485 | 295,551 |
| 23 | Illinois | $2,005 | ~$2,113 | $1,591 | 1,815,473 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $2,000 | ~$2,107 | $1,426 | 64,753 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $1,996 | ~$2,103 | $1,615 | 985,737 |
| 26 | Iowa | $1,992 | ~$2,099 | $1,506 | 547,590 |
| 27 | Oregon | $1,990 | ~$2,097 | $1,548 | 747,785 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $1,981 | ~$2,087 | $1,637 | 250,578 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $1,980 | ~$2,086 | $1,586 | 1,768,974 |
| 30 | Florida | $1,962 | ~$2,067 | $1,625 | 4,063,202 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $1,958 | ~$2,063 | $1,547 | 1,135,346 |
| 32 | Idaho | $1,951 | ~$2,056 | $1,554 | 316,826 |
| 33 | Missouri | $1,937 | ~$2,041 | $1,533 | 1,014,276 |
| 34 | California | $1,935 | ~$2,039 | $1,622 | 5,120,435 |
| 35 | Texas | $1,932 | ~$2,036 | $1,557 | 3,546,829 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $1,929 | ~$2,033 | $1,488 | 117,304 |
| 37 | Georgia | $1,924 | ~$2,027 | $1,581 | 1,504,785 |
| 38 | Ohio | $1,923 | ~$2,026 | $1,514 | 1,833,512 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $1,922 | ~$2,025 | $1,517 | 610,260 |
| 40 | Alabama | $1,920 | ~$2,023 | $1,549 | 822,825 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $1,919 | ~$2,022 | $1,489 | 161,231 |
| 42 | Alaska | $1,907 | ~$2,009 | $1,563 | 91,481 |
| 43 | Nevada | $1,906 | ~$2,008 | $1,672 | 480,128 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $1,898 | ~$2,000 | $1,556 | 319,489 |
| 45 | Maine | $1,889 | ~$1,990 | $1,490 | 283,387 |
| 46 | Montana | $1,887 | ~$1,988 | $1,508 | 210,371 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $1,866 | ~$1,966 | $1,543 | 698,981 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $1,865 | ~$1,965 | $1,495 | 355,954 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $1,852 | ~$1,951 | $1,514 | 501,220 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $1,818 | ~$1,916 | $1,511 | 636,891 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $1,814 | ~$1,911 | $1,505 | 482,049 |
| — | All areas (U.S.) | $1,975 | ~$2,081 | $1,581 | 51,772,651 |
Source: Social Security Administration, OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024 (Tables 2 and 3, December 2024), average = total monthly benefits ÷ beneficiaries. SSA’s January 2026 national average for all retired workers, after the 2.8% COLA, is $2,071.
Benefits track lifetime earnings, so states with higher wages over the past several decades (Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland) have the highest averages, and states with lower historical wages (Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico) the lowest. The gap between the top and bottom state is about $382 a month.
Social Security Benefit by Claiming Age
| Claiming Age | % of Full Benefit | Illustrative Monthly Benefit (Avg. Earner) | Lifetime Total (Live to 85, no COLA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 70% | $1,450 | $400,200 |
| 63 | 75% | $1,553 | $409,992 |
| 64 | 80% | $1,657 | $417,564 |
| 65 | 86.7% | $1,795 | $430,800 |
| 66 | 93.3% | $1,932 | $440,496 |
| 67 (FRA) | 100% | $2,071 | $447,336 |
| 68 | 108% | $2,237 | $455,334 |
| 69 | 116% | $2,402 | $461,184 |
| 70 | 124% | $2,568 | $462,240 |
*Illustrative monthly benefits apply the standard SSA claiming-age adjustment to the 2026 average retired-worker benefit of $2,071. Lifetime totals are simplified (monthly benefit × months from claiming age to 85, no COLA compounding) and are for comparison only.
Delaying from 62 to 70 increases your monthly benefit by roughly 77% and maximizes lifetime benefits if you live past your early 80s.
Social Security Replacement Rate
How much of your earnings Social Security replaces at full retirement age, using the 2026 benefit formula and assuming the same inflation-adjusted earnings every year of a 35-year career:
| Career Earnings (per year, indexed) | Annual Benefit at Full Retirement Age | Replacement Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $18,551 | 62% |
| $50,000 | $24,951 | 50% |
| $75,000 | $32,951 | 44% |
| $100,000 | $39,759 | 40% |
| $150,000 | $47,259 | 32% |
| $184,500+ every year (35-year maximum earner) | $49,824 (2026 maximum at FRA) | ~27% or less |
Lower-income workers get a higher replacement rate because of Social Security’s progressive benefit formula. Higher earners need proportionally more savings from other sources.
Social Security Trust Fund Status
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Combined OASDI trust fund depletion (2026 Trustees Report) | 2034 |
| After combined depletion: benefits payable | about 83% of scheduled benefits |
| OASI (retirement) fund depletion (2026 Trustees Report) | 2032 |
| After OASI depletion: benefits payable | about 78% of scheduled benefits |
| Payroll tax rate (employee + employer) | 12.4% (6.2% each) |
| Income subject to SS tax (2026) | Up to $184,500 |
| Workers per beneficiary (1960) | 5.1 |
| Workers per beneficiary (2024, approx.) | ~2.7 |
| Workers per beneficiary (2035, projected) | ~2.3 |
Trust fund depletion dates and payable percentages are from the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report (released June 2026); the Trustees update them every year.
Proposed Fixes
| Proposal | Projected Impact |
|---|---|
| Raise payroll tax rate | Would close a meaningful share of the shortfall — exact percentage depends on the specific rate proposed |
| Remove or raise the cap on taxable earnings ($184,500) | Would close a substantial share of the shortfall |
| Raise full retirement age | Would close a smaller share of the shortfall than tax-side changes |
| Reduce COLA calculation | Would close a modest share of the shortfall |
| Means-test benefits (reduce for high earners) | Would close a modest share of the shortfall |
| Combination of smaller changes | Commonly proposed as a way to close the full gap |
*Specific numeric “solves X% of shortfall” estimates for these proposals vary by source and by the exact parameters proposed; confirm current estimates from the SSA Office of the Chief Actuary or the Congressional Budget Office before citing a specific percentage.
States That Tax Social Security
Eight states tax Social Security benefits in 2026 (Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont), most with exemptions for lower incomes; the other 42 states and DC don’t. See states that don’t tax Social Security.
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 |
| Coordinate claiming ages within a couple | Higher earner delays; lower earner may claim earlier |
| Minimize SS taxes (manage other income) | Up to 85% of SS can be federally taxable |
| Check your statement at ssa.gov | Verify earnings history annually |
Explore More
For more on Social Security, see the Social Security hub.
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