Average Social Security Check at Age 65
Updated June 2026 · Source: Social Security Administration
SSA publishes these figures twice a year, in June and December. The December 2026 snapshot will appear here automatically once SSA releases it.
- average monthly check
- $1,629.44
- beneficiaries age 65
- 1,519,392
- average for men
- $1,796.30
- average for women
- $1,476.52
Social Security retirement beneficiaries who are 65 years old receive an average of $1,629.44 per month, as of June 2026, paid to 1,519,392 people at this age. Claiming before full retirement age (67 for anyone born in 1960 or later) means a permanently reduced monthly benefit.
SSA has not published 2027 figures yet. Based on how the average at this age has changed over the last 5 years, our estimate for 2027 is around $1,682.83 a month. It is a projection, not an official number, and it is flagged in the table below.
Average check at age 65 by year
| Year | Average check | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2027estimated | ~$1,682.83 | +$53.39 |
| 2026 | $1,629.44 | +$22.17 |
| 2025 | $1,607.27 | −$3.73 |
| 2024 | $1,611.00 | +$47.94 |
| 2023 | $1,563.06 | +$58.08 |
| 2022 | $1,504.98 | +$115.47 |
| 2021 | $1,389.51 | +$54.83 |
| 2020 | $1,334.68 | +$42.90 |
| 2019 | $1,291.78 | +$60.35 |
| 2018 | $1,231.43 | +$25.64 |
| 2017 | $1,205.79 | +$33.51 |
| 2016 | $1,172.28 | +$19.96 |
| 2015 | $1,152.32 | −$17.41 |
| 2014 | $1,169.73 | −$4.18 |
| 2013 | $1,173.91 | - |
Annual increases largely track Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 2027 row marked “estimated” is our projection, not SSA data: it applies this age group's average change over the last 5 years to the June 2026 figure. SSA's actual 2027 numbers will replace it once published.
Men vs. women at age 65
At age 65, men receive about $1,796.30 per month and women about $1,476.52, a difference of $319.78 (18%), mostly reflecting differences in lifetime earnings and claiming age.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average Social Security check at age 65?
- As of June 2026, the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit for beneficiaries age 65 is $1,629.44, based on 1,519,392 beneficiaries (SSA data).
- Do men or women get more at age 65?
- At age 65, men receive about $1,796.30 per month on average and women about $1,476.52, a gap of $319.78 (18%), largely reflecting lifetime earnings differences.
- Is age 65 a good time to claim Social Security?
- Claiming before full retirement age (67 for anyone born in 1960 or later) means a permanently reduced monthly benefit.