Average Social Security Check at Age 65: What to Expect
Written by
Rudri Patel
Edited by
Nupur Gambhir
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The average Social Security check at age 65 is about $2,185 per month. But that figure only tells part of the story. Benefits are based on your lifetime earnings and the age you claim, which means two people the same age can see very different payouts. Some retirees collect much less than the average, while those with higher earnings and delayed filing can receive substantially more.
What Is the Average Social Security Check at Age 65?
The latest data shows that the average monthly benefit for a retired worker who claims at full retirement age (67) is $2,511. Retiring earlier at 65 reduces that amount by about 13.3%, bringing the average check down to roughly $2,185. The lower payment reflects the fact that you’re claiming before full retirement age.
The benefits are adjusted for inflation and cost-of-living increases (COLA).
How Much Does the Average 65-Year-Old Receive from Social Security?
The average monthly benefit for a retired worker who claims Social Security at age 65 is about $2,185. This figure applies only to retired workers–it doesn’t include survivor or disability benefits.
The reason this amount is lower is that 65 is earlier than full retirement age. For those born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. If you were born between 1949 and 1959, your full retirement age is either 66 or 67, depending on your exact birth year.
What Impacts Your Personal BenefitÂ
Several things determine the size of your monthly check:
- Earnings history. Your benefit is based on how much you earned during your career.
- Years worked. Social Security averages your highest 35 years of earnings. Fewer years can lower your benefit.
- Working past 65. Continuing to work may boost your benefit if you’re earning more than in earlier years.
What couples can expect at 65
A married couple who both claim at 65 may receive a combined benefit of roughly $3,200 to $3,800 per month, depending on their earnings.
How Social Security Benefits Are Calculated
Social Security benefits aren’t determined by a single number — they’re based on a formula that considers your highest earning years, your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME), and the age you start claiming.
Highest 35 Years of Earnings
The Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at your entire work history but only uses your 35 highest-earning years in the calculation.
- If you worked fewer than 35 years, the missing years are counted as zero
- More years of steady earnings can raise your benefit
Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)
Your AIME is the foundation for calculating benefits. To determine it, the SSA:
- Adjusts your 35 highest-earning years for inflation
- Adds those adjusted earnings together
- Divides the total by 420 (the number of months in 35 years) to find your monthly average
- Uses that average in a formula to determine your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is your base benefit
The Age You Claim Benefits
When you start claiming makes a big difference:
- At 70. Your benefit grows beyond the full retirement amount thanks to delayed retirement credits
- At 62. Your monthly benefit is permanently reduced
- At full retirement age (66-67). You receive 100% of your benefit
How Claiming at Age 65 Affects Your Check
Your full retirement age (FRA) depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1960 or later, your FRA is 67. For those born between 1949 and 1959, it falls between 66 and 67.
Claiming Social Security at 65 means locking in a permanent reduction compared to waiting until your FRA. If your FRA is 67, retiring at 65 reduces your monthly benefit by about 13.3%, leaving you with roughly 86.7% of your full benefit amount.
How Age Impacts Your Social Security Benefit
The age you claim Social Security has a direct effect on your monthly payment. If your full retirement age is 67 and your benefit at that age is $2,200, claiming at 62 would reduce your check to about 70% of that amount, while waiting until age 70 would increase it by roughly 24%.
| When You Claim | How Much of Your Benefit You’ll Get | Estimated Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 70% | $1,400 |
| 65 | 87% | $1,900 |
| 67 | 100% | $2,200 |
| 70 | 124% | $2,700 |
Can You Live on Just Social Security at 65?
In 2025, the average household spends about $61,334 a year on expenses. By comparison, the average Social Security check is about $1,950 per month, or $23,400 annually — less than half of what most households need to cover basic costs.
That gap means retirees almost always need other sources of income. Pensions, 401(k) withdrawals, savings, or investment accounts can help bridge the difference. Some retirees may also rely on part-time work or consulting to supplement their benefits.
It’s important to remember that Social Security was never designed to fully replace your income. On average, it covers about 40% of pre-retirement earnings, and the percentage is even lower if you start claiming early at 62 instead of waiting until your full retirement age of 67.
FAQ
- What is the average Social Security check at age 65?
- As of December 2024, the average monthly benefit for a retired worker at age 65 is about $2,185. The exact amount you receive depends on your earnings history and the age at which you claim.
- Does claiming at 65 reduce my benefit?
- Yes. Claiming at 65 is considered early if your full retirement age is 67 (for those born in 1960 or later). In that case, your monthly check will be permanently reduced compared to waiting until full retirement age.
- Can I still work and collect Social Security at 65?
- Yes, you can work while collecting benefits. However, if you claim before reaching full retirement age, your benefits may be temporarily reduced if your earnings exceed the annual limit set by the Social Security Administration.
- How can I get a higher monthly Social Security check?
- You can increase your benefit by working more years (since it’s based on your highest 35 years of earnings), boosting your income during your career, and delaying when you claim. Waiting until age 70 to file can raise your monthly check significantly.
