As of May 2025, over 55 million people receive Social Security retirement benefits, with most relying on them for most or all of their retirement income. The amount of these benefits varies, but having a gist of average benefits at certain ages can help you set expectations and begin planning your budget accordingly.

If you’re a Social Security beneficiary, you may see a boost in your checks starting in 2026. While the official Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) won’t be released until Oct. 10, the increase for next year is estimated at 2.

Social Security is a major source of income for nearly 73M Americans — but how far does the average check go? See average benefits by age and gender, how its calculated and making the most of your money,