10 States With the Highest Social Security Payments
Written by
John Schmoll
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Claiming Social Security isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one retiree may be unwise for another. However, many soon-to-be retirees may want to maximize their monthly payments to optimize their finances after exiting the workforce.
Delaying claiming Social Security is often the best way to maximize payments. Americans can claim Social Security as young as 62, but they pay for that ability. For Americans born in 1960 or later, benefits will be reduced by roughly 30%, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Waiting until reaching full retirement age (FRA), age 67, is a good way to increase payments. Delaying claiming Social Security will add 8% to your annual benefits once you start collecting benefits or you reach 70 years old, according to the SSA.
If you’re unable to delay claiming benefits, you may need to identify ways to supplement payments. Relying on retirement assets or downsizing your home are good ways to manage financial needs in retirement.
Retired Americans can also opt to work part-time to offset costs. While not desirable, it can help make ends meet or allow retirees to enjoy some simple luxuries without reducing benefits. Retirees can earn up to $62,160, as of 2025, before benefits are reduced, according to the SSA.
Where you live can also affect how far Social Security benefits will stretch, thanks to cost-of-living adjustments, taxes and more. A recent study from Simmrin Law Group identifies the top states with the highest Social Security payments, based on total annual payments, total recipients and monthly payout per recipient. Here are the top ten states with the highest Social Security payments.
California
- Total Annual Payments: $10.56 billion
- Total Recipients: 1,114,946
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $9,471
Washington
- Total Annual Payments: $1.14 billion
- Total Recipients:134,979
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,426
Maryland
- Total Annual Payments: $954.69 million
- Total Recipients:113,353
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,422
Delaware
- Total Annual Payments: $134.83 million
- Total Recipients: 16,015
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,419
Pennsylvania
- Total Annual Payments: $2.73 billion
- Total Recipients: 324,958
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,401
Indiana
- Total Annual Payments: $999.62 million
- Total Recipients: 119,965
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,333
Minnesota
- Total Annual Payments: $736.04 million
- Total Recipients: 88,376
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,328
Michigan
- Total Annual Payments: $2.07 billion
- Total Recipients: 248,307
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,321
Ohio
- Total Annual Payments: $2.39 billion
- Total Recipients: 288,748
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,289
Hawaii
- Total Annual Payments: $173.47 million
- Total Recipients: 21,009
- Monthly SSI Payout Per Recipient: $8,257
“While all states participate in the federal SSI program, the significant variation in per-recipient payouts suggests that localized cost-of-living adjustments, differing state-level supplements and administrative efficiency play major roles in shaping the final benefit amount,” said a spokesperson from Simmrin Law Group. “This disparity means that two individuals with identical needs could experience vastly different levels of financial support simply based on their state of residence.”
Where you live in retirement and what you receive from Social Security can directly impact your life. Managing the two to maximize lifestyle opportunities is essential to achieving what you want in retirement.
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