Income from Social Security
Nearly nine in ten older adults receives income from Social Security. Below are statistics on the benefits received by older adults, by average, median and relative importance.
Average Social Security Benefits
In 2019, the average retiree received an estimated $18,034 a year in Social Security benefits. Couples in which both parties received benefits received $30,991 a year. The average for an aged widow or widower was $17,072.
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|
Measures of Social Security benefits |
|
Average benefits for retired workers |
$18,034 |
Average benefits received by a couple, both of whom were receiving benefits |
$30,991 |
Average aged widow/widower benefit |
$17,072 |
Median Social Security Benefits
The Social Security Administration also publishes median Social Security benefit numbers. These are published less frequently. The 2018 figures show that half of all people age 65 and older received less than $15,516 a year from Social Security.
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|
Age group |
|
65 and older |
$15,516 |
65-74 |
$15,284 |
75+ |
$15,768 |
Why Social Security is So Important
Social Security benefits account for 50 percent or more of retirement income for three out of five beneficiaries who are age 65 or older. Nearly one out of five received all of their income from Social Security in 2014. For additional information view the statistics here.
Social Security benefits are particularly important to lower-income recipients. More than half of those in the lowest one-fifth (quintile) of older adults receiving Social Security in 2014 received all of their income from Social Security. The full table on income quintiles can be viewed here.
For More Statistics on the Income of Older Adults:
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Did You Know?
Church pension plans. Employees covered by church pension plans are denied the basic protections provided to virtually all other private-sector workers who participate in pension plans. Read our fact sheets to learn more.