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Retired workers ages 65–69 received an average of $1,967.07 per month, compared with $2,225.12 for those ages 70–74. Those are Social Security Administration (SSA) averages for beneficiaries receiving retired-worker benefits in December 2025—not estimates of what an individual will receive by waiting to claim.
Average benefits by age group
The SSA’s 2026 Annual Statistical Supplement reports these average monthly benefits for retired-worker beneficiaries in current-payment status in December 2025:
| Age | Average monthly benefit |
|---|---|
| 62–64 | $1,450.74 |
| 65–69 | $1,967.07 |
| 70–74 | $2,225.12 |
| 75–79 | $2,153.59 |
| All retired workers | $2,071.30 |
Source: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement, 2026, table 5.A. The table draws on 100 percent data from SSA’s Master Beneficiary Record.
What the averages look like at individual ages
Single-age averages add detail to the age-band comparison. In December 2025, the average was $1,424.40 at age 62, $2,016.48 at age 67, $2,274.68 at age 70, and $2,144.88 at age 75.
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Across the full set of ages, the averages were $1,435.81 at 63 and $1,478.00 at 64; $1,607.27 at 65, $1,807.28 at 66, $2,052.64 at 68, and $2,096.95 at 69; $2,247.76 at 71, $2,205.21 at 72, $2,207.96 at 73, and $2,178.87 at 74; and $2,157.21 at 76, $2,153.59 at 77, $2,157.57 at 78, and $2,153.76 at 79. These remain averages among beneficiaries receiving retired-worker benefits, not figures for everyone of those ages.
Why the averages do not predict your check
The SSA table counts people already receiving retired-worker benefits in the month shown. It does not represent every person in an age group, other types of Social Security beneficiaries, or people who have not yet claimed. People in the same age band can have different earnings records and claiming histories, so the difference between two age-group averages is not a personalized estimate of the gain from delaying.
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The table also shows different averages by sex. For example, in December 2025 the age-70 average was $2,529.62 for men and $2,024.08 for women; at age 75, it was $2,358.96 for men and $1,937.42 for women. These are descriptive figures for the recorded beneficiary groups; the table does not establish the reasons for the differences.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How claiming age affects an individual benefit
Claiming before full retirement age
Retirement benefits can begin at age 62, but claiming before full retirement age reduces the monthly amount. As one cohort-specific example, the SSA says workers reaching 62 in 2025 have a full retirement age of 67 and could have a maximum reduction of 30 percent for claiming at 62. Your own full retirement age and benefit amount depend on your circumstances and record.
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Delaying after full retirement age
For people born in 1943 or later, delayed retirement credits increase benefits by 8 percent per year after full retirement age, and credits stop accruing at age 70. The SSA states: “Benefit increases stop accumulating when the worker reaches age 70, even if he or she continues to delay taking benefits.” The exact calculation depends on birth year and individual record. See the SSA’s 2025 Appendix C on computing a retired-worker benefit.
Quick Recap
How to use the comparison for retirement planning
- Use the age averages for context. They describe people receiving benefits in December 2025; they are not a forecast for your future payment.
- Check your own estimate. Compare your projected benefit at different claiming ages using your personal SSA estimate and applicable full retirement age.
- Keep subgroup figures separate. SSA reports an average of $2,969.21 for the distinct group with delayed retirement credits and $2,267.12 for the distinct group whose benefit was unaffected by early-retirement reductions or delayed credits in December 2025. Neither replaces the all-retired-worker averages above. Details are in SSA table 5.B.
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