By Leada Gore
al.com
(TNS)
The most current data from the Social Security Administration shows the average retirement benefit is $2,079 a month. That varies greatly, however, based on when you start drawing benefits.
You can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. You are only eligible for your maximum amount, however, when you reach your full retirement age, or FRA. And, if you delay past FRA to age 70, your benefits go up again.
For those born in 1960 or later, FRA is age 67. You can check your FRA here.
Start drawing early and your benefits are reduced by a small percentage for each month before FRA. People who claim benefits at age 62 can see their monthly payments reduced by up to 30%, while those who wait to begin collecting after FRA see an increase of about 8% per month until age 70.
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What’s the average monthly benefit based on age?
Investing website 24/7 WallStreet used SSA data to determine the average retirement benefits by age. The data is from December 2025, so there will be some slight differences in current amounts. It’s also important to note these averages represent only retirement benefits and not other programs, such as Social Security Disability Insurance.
Here are the monthly averages based on retirees’ age:
- 62 – $1,424
- 63 – $1435,81
- 64 – $1,478
- 65 – $1,607.27
- 66 – $1,807.28
- 67 – $2,016.48
- 68 – $2,052.64
- 69 – $2,096.95
- 70 – $2,274.68
- 71 – $2,247.76
- 72 – $2,205.21
- 73 – $2,207.96
- 74 – $2,178.87
- 75 – $2,144.88
- 76 – $2,157.21
- 77 – $2,170.80
- 78 – $2,140.16
- 79 – $2,155.77
- 80 – $2,106.29
- 81 – $2,099.82
- 82 – $2,098.76
- 83 – $2,102.12
- 84 – $2,101.26
- 85 – $2,077.11
- 86 – $2,036.62
- 87 – $2,015.54
- 88 – $1,983.29
- 89 – $1,925.36
- 90 – $1,898.34
- 91 – $1,894.74
- 92 – $1,899.20
- 93 – $1,920.13
- 94 – $1,907.78
- 95 – $1,890.03
- 96 – $1,889.08
- 97 – $1,891.21
- 98 – $1,887.57
- 99-plus – $1,845
Photo credit: MargJohnsonVA/iStock
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