Whether your monthly benefit is higher or lower than the average Social Security payment for retired workers, $2,084.40 as of June 2026, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), it will play a key role in helping you maintain a stress-free
retirement. The additional cash can round out your own retirement savings,
serving as a steady source of income once you’ve left the workforce behind. But
how much will your Social Security benefit actually come to, and is it better or
worse than the average for others in your age group?
Below, we’ll tell you more about the average Social Security check amount for
65-year-old Americans, explain more about how Social Security works, and offer
tips for catching up if your savings have fallen behind and you want to do better financially.
Find Out: 13 moves seniors could benefit from but often forget about.
The average Social Security check for 65-year-olds
According to the most recent data available, the average Social
Security benefit for 65-year-old Americans is $1,607.
However, the average benefit varies greatly between men and women. For instance,
the average 65-year-old man receives a benefit amount of $1,772. Meanwhile,
the average 65-year-old woman receives a benefit amount of $1,457.40.
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What is the average Social Security check overall?
The average Social Security benefit for retired workers of any age or sex is
$2,084.40.
Wondering why there’s such a difference between the average check amount and the
average amount for those in their mid-60s? The age at which you claim Social
Security greatly impacts your benefit. While you can apply for benefits as young
as age 62, anyone who gets benefits before they reach their full retirement age
(FRA) will have their checks reduced by a certain percentage for the rest of
their lives.
Since the FRA for anyone born from 1960 onward is age 67, those taking benefits
at age 65 are all receiving reduced benefits, which helps account for the
below-average number.
What is the maximum Social Security benefit?
Social Security benefits are calculated based on the length of your
earnings history, your average income, and the age at which you apply for
benefits.
There is a yearly limit on the amount of income you earn that can be
subject to a Social Security tax. (For the 2026 tax year, that number is
$184,500.) Assuming you earned the maximum taxable amount of income starting at
age 22, your maximum benefit would be $5,181 as long as you postponed applying
for benefits until you turned 70.
If you applied for benefits as early as you could at age 62, your maximum
benefit amount drops to $2,969.
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How many people claim Social Security?
The SSA reports that over 75 million people receive Social Security benefits. That
number includes retired workers as well as their spouses or children who qualify
for benefits based on their partner’s or parents’ earnings history. Children of
deceased workers, as well as their qualifying widows, widowers, or parents, may
also receive Social Security benefits.
How to estimate your benefits
The SSA’s retirement
calculators can help you estimate your benefits based on your earnings
history, number of years in the workforce, and anticipated age of retirement
(specifically, how many months before or after your FRA you plan to apply for
benefits).
If you just want a rough estimate, you can plug your birthday, annual income,
and estimated retirement age into the SSA’s quick Social Security calculator,
but bear in mind that the estimate will be less accurate.
What to do if your check is below average
If you run the numbers and find out you’re likely to receive a below-average
Social Security benefit amount, you aren’t alone, and you aren’t out of time.
No matter how near you are to retirement, there’s always time to supplement your
savings and prepare for life beyond your career, starting with the tips we list
below.
Retire like the rich: 14 ways you could build wealth in your 50s.
Consider a part-time side gig
Pursuing a side hustle might be the fastest, most reliable way to build up your
savings as quickly as possible and eliminate some money stress. Something as simple as driving for Uber in your
off hours or selling homemade crafts on Etsy can help you up your retirement
savings game right away, especially if you funnel all the proceeds into a
high-yield savings account.
Make sure you’re maxing out retirement savings contributions
The closer you get to retirement, the more money you’re allowed to contribute to
a retirement savings account like a 401(k) or Roth IRA. If you aren’t already
maxing out your contributions, see if you can free up room in your budget to
start saving more.
Bottom line
No matter how large or small the amount, the impact your Social Security benefit
will have on your retirement
plan can’t be overstated. If you haven’t taken the time to estimate your
benefit yet, set aside a few hours to tackle it this month. And if running the
calculations yourself seems too complicated, don’t hesitate to book a meeting
with a financial advisor or retirement planner who can help you maximize
benefits and craft a secure plan for your future.
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