Every year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes updated figures on how much the average retiree receives.
In 2025, those averages have nudged upward thanks to the 2.5 % cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and other changes such as the repeal of certain benefit reductions.
Below is a current look at average benefit amounts, their drivers, and what the numbers mean for you.
What is the average monthly Social Security benefit in 2025?
For January 2025, SSA estimated the average monthly retirement benefit at $1,976 after applying the 2.5 % COLA.
By mid-2025, the average benefit for retired workers had crossed the $2,000 mark. In May 2025, that average reached $2,002.39.
In June 2025, the average monthly Social Security check for retired workers was $2,005.05.
By August 2025, the average had further risen to $2,008.31.
So the trend in 2025 shows continued upward movement above the $2,000 threshold for average retirement payments.
Which average does this refer to and who is included?
When we say “average monthly benefit,” it generally refers to retired workers’ benefits only — that is, individuals who worked and now collect retirement benefits.
There are other benefit categories (survivors, disability, spouses, etc.) with different averages.
SSA’s “Monthly Statistical Snapshot” includes data on total beneficiaries, but the average figure often cited in the press is specific to retired workers.
Why has the average benefit increased more than just the COLA?
While the 2.5 % COLA pushed benefits upward, other factors also helped:
- The Social Security Fairness Act (repealing WEP and GPO) restored benefits to many workers whose payments had been reduced under those rules. This pushed up many individual benefits and thus raised the average.
- Newer retirees often have higher lifetime earnings than earlier cohorts, which also moves the average up.
Thus, average benefit growth can outpace the pure percentage COLA when structural changes affect many beneficiaries.
What are the maximum benefits in 2025 for comparison?
To put the average in context, the maximum Social Security benefit (for someone retiring at age 70 with a maximal earnings history) in 2025 is $5,108 per month.
For someone who claims at full retirement age, the maximum is $4,018 in 2025.
For claiming early at age 62, the maximum is $2,831 in 2025.
These maximums are achievable only by those with long work histories at the highest taxable income levels.
How do these averages compare with past years?
Before the COLA adjustment, the average retiree benefit in 2024 was lower. The 2.5 % boost nudged it upward for 2025.
The jump to an average above $2,000 in 2025 is notable, as many previous years had averages in the high $1,800–$1,900 range.
What does this mean for individual benefits?
The average is only a benchmark. Your own benefit may differ significantly depending on:
- Your lifetime earnings record
- The age at which you begin to claim benefits
- Whether you had non-covered employment, which formerly triggered reductions now being reversed for some
- Whether you delayed claiming (earning delayed retirement credits)
If your benefit is significantly below the average, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong; averages can hide wide disparities.
Where to find the most up-to-date average and benefit tables?
- SSA’s Monthly Statistical Snapshot publishes average benefit data by month.
- SSA’s Fact Sheet on COLA gives context on average benefits and changes.
- SSA’s FAQ page states explicitly that in January 2025, the estimated average retirement benefit is $1,976.
- Press analysis (e.g., Kiplinger) regularly reports updated average benefit amounts.
