Here's the Average Social Security Benefit at Ages 62 to 70 (for Men and Women)

By Trevor Jennewine – Apr 19, 2026 at 4:36AM ESTKey PointsRetired workers can maximize their monthly Social Security income by claiming at age 70, but they become eligible for benefits at age 62.The average 70-year-old man receives $2,530 per month in benefits, while the average 70-year-old woman receives $2,204 per month.The average 62-year-old man receives $1,573 per month in benefits, while the average 62-year-old woman receives $1,286 per month.In any given year, more than 20% of newly awarded retirees generally claim Social Security benefits at age 62 (i.e., as early as possible). In turn, they receive the smallest possible benefit based on their personal circumstances. Meanwhile, fewer than 10% of newly awarded retirees maximize their benefit by delaying until age 70. Read on to learn exactly how much claim age affects Social Security payouts for retired men and women. Image source: Getty Images. Here's the average Social Security benefit for retired men and women at different ages The Social Security Administration publishes anonymized benefit data for transparency and to educate the public. The information in the chart below comes from a biannual report that was most recently updated in December 2025. It shows the average monthly Social Security benefit paid to retired workers aged 62 to 70.

Age Average Retired-Worker Benefit (Men) Average Retired-Worker Benefit (Women) 62 $1,573 $1,286 63 $1,581 $1,300 64 $1,625 $1,342 65 $1,772 $1,457 66 $1,998 $1,629 67 $2,234 $1,802 68 $2,272 $1,837 69 $2,322 $1,877 70 $2,530 $2,024 Data source: Social Security Administration. There are two noteworthy trends in the chart. First, the average retired-worker benefit generally increases from ages 62 and 70. The primary reason for that is differences in claim age. Workers are entitled to Social Security at age 62, but they are not entitled to the largest possible benefit based on their lifetime earnings until age 70. Second, the average retired-worker benefit paid to men tends to be higher than the average retired-worker benefit paid to women at any given age. The primary reason for that is differences in lifetime earnings. Men tend to earn more than women, though the gender pay gap has narrowed slightly in recent decades, so the discrepancy is more pronounced in older age groups. For instance, the average retired-worker benefit paid to men is 25% higher at age 70, but 22% higher at age 62. Here's how Social Security retired-worker benefits are calculated The Social Security Administration considers both the variables I just mentioned when calculating retired-worker benefits: lifetime earnings and claim age. The two-step process detailed below explains exactly how those two variables come together to influence the final payout. Step 1: A formula is applied to the inflation-adjusted earnings from the 35 highest-paid years of a worker's career to determine their primary insurance amount (PIA). The PIA is the benefit a worker will get if they start Social Security at full retirement age (FRA), which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Step 2: The PIA is adjusted for early or delayed retirement. Retirees who claim Social Security before FRA get a smaller benefit, meaning they receive less than 100% of their PIA. Workers who start Social Security after FRA get a bigger benefit, meaning they receive more than 100% of their PIA. There are two important conditions to keep in mind. First, eligibility for retirement benefits begins at age 62, so no one can claim earlier. Second, delayed retirement credits stop accumulating at age 70, so no one should ever claim later. The chart below details the relationship between birth year and full retirement age. It also shows the benefit (as a percentage of PIA) retired workers in each age group will get if they claim Social Security at ages 62 and 70. In other words, the chart details the smallest and largest possible payouts across different age groups.

Birth Year Full Retirement Age Benefit at Age 62 Benefit at Age 70 1943-1954 66 75% 132% 1955 66 and 2 months 74.2% 130.6% 1956 66 and 4 months 73.3% 129.3% 1957 66 and 6 months 72.5% 128% 1958 66 and 8 months 71.7% 126.6% 1959 66 and 10 months 70.8% 125.3% 1960 and later 67 70% 124% Data source: Social Security Administration. The chart above makes it clear that Social Security benefits are highly dependent on claim age. Indeed, retired workers born in 1960 or later can increase their payout by 77% by claiming Social Security at age 70 rather than age 62. Consider this example: The average retiree had a PIA of $2,116 in 2024. Assuming a birth year of 1960 or later, that person would receive $1,481 per month if they started Social Security at age 62 (i.e., 70% multiplied by $2,116). But the same person would receive $2,624 per month if they started Social Security at age 70 (i.e., 124% multiplied by $2,116). The precise dollar amounts will vary widely due to differences in lifetime earnings, but the percent increase will remain constant. In this case, $2,624 is 77% larger than $1,481.Read NextApr 19, 2026 •By Keith SpeightsIs a Big Social Security Raise Coming in 2027? Here's the New Estimate.Apr 19, 2026 •By Sean WilliamsSocial Security's 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Is on Track to Do Something That Hasn't Happened Since 1997Apr 19, 2026 •By Maurie BackmanWorried About Your Retirement Tax Bill? Here's an Investment Worth Looking AtApr 18, 2026 •By Stefon WaltersMarch Inflation Hit 3.3% -- Here's What That Might Mean for Your Social Security Check in 2027Apr 18, 2026 •By Maurie Backman3 Reasons Why Doing Partial Roth Conversions Could Beat Going All-InApr 18, 2026 •By Maurie Backman3 Reasons You May Be Paying More for Medicare This YearAbout the AuthorTrevor Jennewine is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology, cryptocurrency, and investment planning. Prior to The Motley Fool, Trevor managed several pharmacies. He holds a doctor of pharmacy degree from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in business administration from Miami University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Miami University.TMFphoenix12X@tjennewine1