Every year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) updates the average monthly benefit amounts received by retirees. These figures give a good idea of how much support seniors receive from Social Security based on their age, though the actual amount still depends on each person’s work and earnings history.
For 2025, the SSA is using the average payment data from December 2024 to calculate current year distributions. While the benefit amounts are sorted by age, it’s important to remember that the listed age does not always match the age the person started receiving benefits, except at age 62, which is the earliest possible retirement age.
Why Social Security Is So Important for Retirees
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Social Security helped lift nearly 22 million people out of poverty in 2024, including 16.3 million seniors aged 65 or older. For many retired Americans, this monthly payment is their main source of income, helping them pay bills, buy groceries, and stay financially stable.
Average Social Security Payment by Age in 2025
Here’s the monthly average benefit for retired workers, sorted by age:
- 62 years – $1,341.61
- 63 years – $1,364.48
- 64 years – $1,425.42
- 65 years – $1,611.00
- 66 years – $1,763.99
- 67 years – $1,929.73
- 68 years – $1,979.87
- 69 years – $2,039.72
- 70 years – $2,148.12
- 71 years – $2,114.43
- 72 years – $2,117.23
- 73 years – $2,087.94
- 74 years – $2,054.16
- 75 years – $2,064.53
- 76 years – $2,076.39
- 77 years – $2,046.16
- 78 years – $2,060.78
- 79 years – $2,012.59
- 80 years – $2,006.20
- 81 years – $2,004.45
- 82 years – $2,007.04
- 83 years – $2,006.39
- 84 years – $1,983.59
- 85 years – $1,944.05
- 86 years – $1,924.82
- 87 years – $1,893.13
- 88 years – $1,838.39
- 89 years – $1,813.00
- 90 years – $1,809.24
- 91 years – $1,814.93
- 92 years – $1,838.03
- 93 years – $1,825.54
- 94 years – $1,815.61
- 95 years – $1,814.95
- 96 years – $1,821.27
- 97 years – $1,822.09
- 98 years – $1,798.73
- 99+ years – $1,775.88
As seen, benefit amounts generally increase until age 70, after which they tend to stabilize or slightly decline due to various factors such as reduced cost-of-living adjustments or changes in taxable income.
How the SSA Calculates Your Social Security Benefit
Social Security benefits are not fixed for everyone. The amount you receive each month depends on four key factors:
- Earnings history – The SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation). The more you earned, the more you may receive.
- Employment history – You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) to qualify.
- Full Retirement Age (FRA) – This is typically between age 66 and 67, depending on your birth year.
- Claiming age – The earlier you claim (as early as age 62), the less you receive. Waiting until age 70 gives you the maximum benefit.
Investment income, such as stocks or rental earnings, does not count in Social Security calculations.
Social Security continues to be a lifeline for millions of American retirees, offering financial support that many rely on to cover basic living expenses. The average payment increases with age, particularly for those who delay retirement past their full retirement age.
Whether you’re already receiving benefits or planning to retire soon, it’s good to understand how your work history, age, and claiming time will affect your payments. To get the best possible benefit, consider working longer, earning more, and waiting until age 70 if you can afford to delay.