When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Want to get a good sense of how much income you’re likely to get from Social Security in the future and whether you’re saving enough? Consider the average monthly Social Security benefit.
Because Social Security benefits are an essential part of retirement income, it pays to know how much you’re likely to receive when you retire. There are tools to help you estimate your future income, and comparing yourself with others can help you determine whether you’re in good shape or need to make changes.
The average Social Security monthly check for retired workers reached $2,088.79 in September 2026 — up $1.27 from the previous month’s average of $2,087.52 — according to the Social Security Administration’s September Monthly Statistical Snapshot.
If you’re interested in learning more about the breakdown of Social Security payments, read: The Average Social Security Check by Age and The Average Social Security Check in Every State to see how payments vary compared with your benefits.
Average Social Security check for September 2026
Social Security is a critical part of retirement income. While there are minimum and maximum benefits, your monthly check depends on several factors.
Your monthly Social Security check reflects your lifetime earnings, the age at which you start claiming benefits, whether your benefits are based on your or your spouse’s work history and the number of years you worked. The SSA uses a formula to calculate benefits based on your 35 highest-earning years.
The spousal benefits you can collect are smaller than if you’d filed based on your work history. The spousal benefit is typically calculated as a percentage of your spouse’s benefit, ranging from 32.5% to 50%, depending on the age at which you make your claim. Spousal benefits are capped at 50% of your spouse’s benefit at full retirement age (FRA) and can’t be topped up with delayed retirement credits.
The complexity of benefit calculations makes it tough to estimate what your Social Security payments might be when you decide to apply. Still, you can produce a reasonable estimate.
Let’s look at the average September check received by all retirement beneficiaries, broken down by retired workers and the spouses and children of retired workers.
|
Type of beneficiary |
Number of beneficiaries |
Average monthly benefit |
|---|---|---|
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
57.92 million |
$2,034.54 (up $1.27) |
|
Retired workers |
55.08 million |
$2,088.79 (up $1.27) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.10 million |
$986.68 (down 2 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
736,000 |
$962.37 (up $1.11) |
|
Type of beneficiary |
Number of beneficiaries |
Average monthly benefit |
|---|---|---|
|
For August 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
57.78 million |
$2,033.27 (up $1.53) |
|
Retired workers |
54.95 million |
$2,087.52 (up $1.54) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.10 million |
$986.70 (up 17 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
734,000 |
$961.26 (up 91 cents) |
|
For July 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
57.61 million |
$2,031.74 (up $1.82) |
|
Retired workers |
54.785 million |
$2,085.98 (up $1.58) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.094 million |
$986.53 (up 18 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
731,000 |
$960.35 (up 5 cents) |
|
For June 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
57.45 million |
$2,029.92 (up $1.92) |
|
Retired workers |
54.62 million |
$2,084.40 (up $1.64) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.092 million |
$986.35 (up 16 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
741,000 |
$960.30 (down 10 cents) |
|
For May 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
57.32 million |
$2,028.00 (up $1.59) |
|
Retired workers |
54.48 million |
$2,082.76 (up $1.60) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.091 million |
$986.19 (up 20 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
754,000 |
$960.40 (up 84 cents) |
|
For April 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
57.14 million |
$2,026.41 (up $1.64) |
|
Retired workers |
54.3 million |
$2,081.16 (up $1.67) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.088 million |
$985.99 (up 19 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
751,000 |
$959.56 (up 92 cents) |
|
For March 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
56.98 million |
$2,024.77 (up $3) |
|
Retired workers |
54.15 million |
$2,079.49 (up $3.38) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.085 million |
$985.80 (up 71 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
747,000 |
$958.64 (up $1.51) |
|
For February 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
56.8 million |
$2,021.77 (up $1.85) |
|
Retired workers |
53.997 million |
$2,076.41 (up $1.88) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.08 million |
$985.09 (up 38 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
743,000 |
$957.13 (up 76 cents) |
|
For January 2026: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
56.67 million |
$2,019.92 (up $3.28) |
|
Retired workers |
53.85 million |
$2,074.53 (up $3.23) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.08 million |
$984.71 (up $1) |
|
Children of retired workers |
738,000 |
$956.37 (up $1.61) |
|
For December 2025: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
56.44 million |
$2,016.64 (up $56.46) |
|
Retired workers |
53.625 million |
$2,071.30 (up $57.98) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.082 million |
$983.71 (up $27.17) |
|
Children of retired workers |
735,000 |
$954.76 (up $26.57) |
|
For November 2025: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
56.368 million |
$1,960.18 (up 96 cents) |
|
Retired workers |
53.553 million |
$2,013.32 (up $1.02) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.083 million |
$956.54 (up 22 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
732,000 |
$928.19 (up 32 cents) |
|
For October 2025: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
56.265 million |
$1,959.22 (up $2.67) |
|
Retired workers |
53.465 million |
$2,012.30 (up $2.08) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.081 million |
$956.32 (up $1.14) |
|
Children of retired workers |
728,000 |
$927.81 (up $2.17) |
|
For September 2025: |
||
|
All retirement beneficiaries |
56.2 million |
$1,956.55 (up $1.07) |
|
Retired workers |
53.4 million |
$2,009.50 (up $1.19) |
|
Spouses of retired workers |
2.077 million |
$955.18 (up 25 cents) |
|
Children of retired workers |
726,000 |
$925.64 (up 69 cents) |
What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2026?
Collecting the maximum benefit is similar to getting the gas mileage you see on the showroom sticker — it’s a reflection of perfect conditions. To get the maximum benefit: Work at least 35 years; earn the maximum taxable amount; wait to apply for benefits until age 70.
Don’t be discouraged if your estimated benefit is lower, as most people aren’t collecting anything close to the maximum. Comparing the maximum amount available in 2026 with the average check for September 2026 illustrates that reality.
|
Retirement age |
|
|---|---|
|
62 |
$2,969 |
|
66 years and 10 months |
$4,152 |
|
70 |
$5,181 |
Social Security is just one slice of the retirement pie
Social Security benefits are far more modest than many people realize. The system was designed to replace around 40% of your preretirement earnings. Social Security benefits are just one part of a retirement plan. You should try to supplement your benefits with a 401(k), IRA or other investments.
To get an idea of how your full retirement portfolio compares with other savers, read:
If you’re concerned about having enough savings for your golden years, consider working with a financial adviser or registered Social Security analyst for retirement planning.
