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Retirement / Social Security

The Average Social Security Check the Year You Were Born

7 min Read
Jordan Rosenfeld Written by Jordan Rosenfeld
Ashleigh Ray Edited by Ashleigh Ray

Richard Stephen / iStock.com

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GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

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Richard Stephen / iStock.com

While Social Security benefits were never meant to fully replace the income you make while working, they are designed to prevent people from running out of funds in retirement. The Social Security Administration (SSA) also accounts for cost of living increases every year, and makes an adjustment to increase the benefits by a reasonable amount, as well.

If you’ve ever wondered what benefits your parents or grandparents were receiving, GOBankingRates took the average Social Security benefit from 1950 and found how much it translates to in today’s dollars. Using the SSA’s Annual Statistical Supplement of 2023, here is the average Social Security check from the year you — or a family member — were born.

Also check out what the average Social Security check will be in 15 years.

1950

  • Average monthly Social Security payment then: $43.86
  • Average monthly Social Security payment in today’s dollars: $585.20

1951

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $42.14
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment in Today’s Dollars: $520.19

1952

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $49.25
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment in Today’s Dollars: $582.73

1953

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $51.10
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $602.34

1954

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $59.14
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $689.34

1955

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $61.90
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $726.91

1956

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $63.09
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $738.12

1957

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $64.58
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $733.66

1958

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $66.35
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $727.41

1959

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $72.78
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $786.90

1960

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $74.04
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $792.32

1961

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $75.65
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $795.97

1962

  • Average monthly Social Security payment then: $76.19
  • Average monthly Social Security payment in today’s dollars: $796.31

1963

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $76.88
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $792.95

1964

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $77.57
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $787.12

1965

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $83.92
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $843.36

1966

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $84.35
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $831.69

1967

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $85.37
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $813.60

1968

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $98.86
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $909.01

1969

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $100.40
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $884.28

1970

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $118.10
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $979.63

1971

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $132.17
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,041.25

1972

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $162.35
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,238.55

1973

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $166.42
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,224.90

1974

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $188.21
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,266.37

1975

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $207.18
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,246.85

1976

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $224.86
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,268.06

1977

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $243.00
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,302.43

1978

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $263.20
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,320.41

1979

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $294.30
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,351.06

1980

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $341.40
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,375.90

1981

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $385.97
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,391.04

1982

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $419.30
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,394.17

1983

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $440.77
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,413.11

1984

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $460.57
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,417.18

1985

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $478.62
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,422.47

1986

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $488.44
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,397.35

1987

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $512.65
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,445.51

1988

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $536.77
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,454.65

1989

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $566.85
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,467.67

1990

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $602.56
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,482.98

1991

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $629.32
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,465.99

1992

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $652.64
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,481.78

1993

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $674.06
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,482.12

1994

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $697.34
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,495.55

1995

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $719.80
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,501.61

1996

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $744.96
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,512.83

1997

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $774.84
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,527.02

1998

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $779.69
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,512.81

1999

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $804.30
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,534.92

2000

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $844.48
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,568.63

2001

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $874.44
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,565.84

2002

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $895.00
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,584.56

2003

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $922.08
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,591.17

2004

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $954.89
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,616.65

2005

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,002.00
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,647.48

2006

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,044.40
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,651.38

2007

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,078.60
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,670.78

2008

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,152.90
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,712.57

2009

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,164.30
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,728.99

2010

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,175.50
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,700.96

2011

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,228.57
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,749.21

2012

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,261.61
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,745.20

2013

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,293.83
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,761.67

2014

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,328.58
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,780.87

2015

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,341.77
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,800.16

2016

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,360.13
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,800.07

2017

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,404.15
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,813.01

2018

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,461.31
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,848.54

2019

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,502.85
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,872.04

2020

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,544.15
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,876.82

2021

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,658.03
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,987.41

2022

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,825.14
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $2,035.47

2023

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment Then: $1,842.87
  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment In Today’s Dollars: $1,931.44

2024

  • Average Monthly Social Security Payment: $1,912.09

Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this story.

Methodology: GOBankingRates used the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) “Annual Statistical Supplement, 2023” to find the average Social Security check the year you were born. Using this report, GOBankingRates referenced Table 3.C4–Average monthly amount of Social Security (OASDI) to find: (1) the average monthly Social Security payment for retired workers (amount at the time), and then used the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI inflation calculator to find the (2) average monthly Social Security payment for retired workers (2024 dollars) for the years 1950 through 2023. All data was collected on and up to date as of May 28, 2024.

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