How Much Americans Rely on Social Security in Every State in 2026

The No. 1 state where retirees rely on Social Security isn’t California or Hawaii. New research from GOBankingRates reveals 41% of West Virginia households heavily depend on these benefits. 

Why do retirees in such a low cost-of-living state lean on Social Security this much? As it turns out, West Virginia is one of the few states where it’s possible to fund retirement on Social Security alone. According to an October 2025 Realtor.com analysis, these benefits are sufficient enough to cover all essential living costs once retirees have paid off their mortgages.

To determine how much Americans rely on Social Security income, GOBankingRates studied key data like the population ages 65 and over, the number of households receiving retirement income and Social Security income, and the average amounts of said income for the households that receive it in each state. From there, the percentage of households that receive Social Security income and retirement income were calculated and the average total income from retirement and Social Security income was calculated.

• West Virginians depend on Social Security the most out of any state. In the Mountain State, 41% of households are supposed by these benefits while 29% of households rely on retirement income.
• At least 36% of households receive Social Security benefits in the top six states. Aside from West Virginia at 41%, the remaining five states include Hawaii (37.8%), Maine (37.5%), Delaware (36.7%), Florida (36.6%) and Vermont (36.4%). 
• Social Security income makes up at least 25% of household income in 49 states. Utah is the only state where Americans rely the least on these benefits, at 23.9%.
• Retirees still need significant retirement savings across the majority of the United States. There are only three states where the total income from Social Security and retirement income amounts to more than $65,000 annually: Hawaii ($65,275), Alaska ($66,262) and Maryland ($66,781).

Here’s how much Americans rely on Social Security in every state. Also, take a look at how far $1.5 million in retirement savings and Social Security goes across the United States.

• % households with Social Security income: 41%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,454
• % of households with retirement income: 29%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $25,596
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $49,050

• % households with Social Security income: 37.8%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,701
• % of households with retirement income: 31%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $39,574
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $65,275

• % households with Social Security income: 37.5%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,788
• % of households with retirement income: 27.5%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,624
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,412

• % households with Social Security income: 36.7%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $27,237
• % of households with retirement income: 32.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,430
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $63,667

• % households with Social Security income: 36.6%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,828
• % of households with retirement income: 25.7%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,158
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $60,986

• % households with Social Security income: 36.4%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,636
• % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,380
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,016

• % households with Social Security income: 35.8%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $22,744
• % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $34,486
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $57,230

• % households with Social Security income: 35.5%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $21,900
• % of households with retirement income: 23.4%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $27,572
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $49,472

• % households with Social Security income: 35.2%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,538
• % of households with retirement income: 25.7%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $29,495
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $53,033

• % households with Social Security income: 35.1%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,889
• % of households with retirement income: 27.1%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,648
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,537

• % households with Social Security income: 35.1%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,783
• % of households with retirement income: 27.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $29,353
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,136

• % households with Social Security income: 35%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,099
• % of households with retirement income: 23.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $25,775
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $48,874

• % households with Social Security income: 34.9%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,306
• % of households with retirement income: 28.1%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,787
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,093

• % households with Social Security income: 34.9%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,038
• % of households with retirement income: 27.5%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,744
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $58,782

• % households with Social Security income: 34.7%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,719
• % of households with retirement income: 25%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $31,521
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,240

• % households with Social Security income: 34.6%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $22,523
• % of households with retirement income: 25.8%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,217
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $50,740

• % households with Social Security income: 34%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,846
• % of households with retirement income: 26.6%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $33,780
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,626

• % households with Social Security income: 33.7%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,173
• % of households with retirement income: 25.4%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,100
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,273

• % households with Social Security income: 33%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,228
• % of households with retirement income: 25.4%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $33,866
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,094

• % households with Social Security income: 32.9%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,894
• % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,160
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $57,054

• % households with Social Security income: 32.8%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,786
• % of households with retirement income: 25.7%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,692
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,478

• % households with Social Security income: 32.8%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,162
• % of households with retirement income: 25.6%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $31,767
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,929

• % households with Social Security income: 32.7%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,671
• % of households with retirement income: 26.9%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,282
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,953

• % households with Social Security income: 32.5%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,229
• % of households with retirement income: 23.6%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,521
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,750

• % households with Social Security income: 32.2%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,030
• % of households with retirement income: 26%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $37,230
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $63,260

• % households with Social Security income: 32.2%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,021
• % of households with retirement income: 24.8%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $35,144
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,165

• % households with Social Security income: 32.1%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,080
• % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,541
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $53,621

• % households with Social Security income: 32%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,506
• % of households with retirement income: 24.5%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,271
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,777

• % households with Social Security income: 31.9%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,616
• % of households with retirement income: 22.9%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,707
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,323

• % households with Social Security income: 31.8%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $21,191
• % of households with retirement income: 21.8%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $29,728
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $50,919

• % households with Social Security income: 31.8%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,883
• % of households with retirement income: 25%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $24,630
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $49,513

• % households with Social Security income: 31.6%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,976
• % of households with retirement income: 24.4%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $27,133
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,109

• % households with Social Security income: 31.4%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,170
• % of households with retirement income: 24.7%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $35,825
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $61,995

• % households with Social Security income: 31.2%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,650
• % of households with retirement income: 24.5%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,093
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,743

• % households with Social Security income: 31%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,344
• % of households with retirement income: 22.1%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,314
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $51,658

• % households with Social Security income: 30.7%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,491
• % of households with retirement income: 24.6%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,694
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,185

• % households with Social Security income: 30%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,428
• % of households with retirement income: 23%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,843
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $61,271

• % households with Social Security income: 30%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,927
• % of households with retirement income: 24.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,828
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,755

• % households with Social Security income: 29.9%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,098
• % of households with retirement income: 26.8%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $38,965
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $64,063

• % households with Social Security income: 29.3%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,669
• % of households with retirement income: 22.4%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $31,564
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,233

• % households with Social Security income: 29.3%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,993
• % of households with retirement income: 21.7%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,510
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $53,503

• % households with Social Security income: 29.2%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,173
• % of households with retirement income: 23.9%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,075
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $60,248

• % households with Social Security income: 29%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,009
• % of households with retirement income: 24.1%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $35,403
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $61,412

• % households with Social Security income: 28.5%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,101
• % of households with retirement income: 26.1%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $41,680
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $66,781

• % households with Social Security income: 28.4%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,818
• % of households with retirement income: 21.7%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $40,267
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $64,085

• % households with Social Security income: 28%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,520
• % of households with retirement income: 19.7%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,888
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,408

• % households with Social Security income: 25.6%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $22,327
• % of households with retirement income: 24.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $43,935
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $66,262

• % households with Social Security income: 25.6%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,827
• % of households with retirement income: 22.3%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $37,797
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $62,624

• % households with Social Security income: 25.4%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,233
• % of households with retirement income: 19.2%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,313
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,546

• % households with Social Security income: 23.9%
• Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,142
• % of households with retirement income: 20.6%
• Average retirement income for households that receive it: $33,767
• Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,909

Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Methodology: All data comes from the U.S. Census 5-Year American Community Survey. The states were sorted to show the highest percentage of households that receive Social Security income. All data is up to date as of Feb. 3, 2026.