Social Security Gender Gap: Why Women Receive Lower Average Benefits

As of December 2025, Social Security Administration (SSA) data confirms a persistent gender gap in retirement benefits, with women receiving an average of $1,872.43 per month. This disparity reflects historical differences in lifetime earnings and workforce participation, as the SSA calculates benefits based on an average of a recipient’s 35 highest-earning years. Because women at age 65 have a life expectancy of 21 more years compared to 18 for men, these lower average benefits must often stretch across a longer retirement period.

Monthly Benefit Variations by Age and Sex

The gap between male and female benefit recipients runs lower for women across every age bracket, according to SSA figures. While the average monthly benefit for all 83-year-old retired workers was $2,102.12 as of December 2025, FinanceBuzz reports that men in that age group received an average of $2,299.53, while women received $1,921.40.

The following table illustrates the average monthly benefits for retired workers by age and gender as of December 2025:

Factors Influencing Benefit Calculations

The SSA benefit formula rewards a longer, higher-earning work history. FinanceBuzz notes that women in the generations now in their 80s were, on average, more likely to work part-time, occupy lower-paying occupations, or take time out of the paid workforce for caregiving, all of which contribute to a smaller benefit calculation.

Because Social Security is designed to replace only about 40% of pre-retirement income, many retirees rely on additional savings or other income sources to cover costs. Government data indicates that roughly 14%, or one in seven retirees, relies almost exclusively on Social Security benefits.

Strategies for Increasing Monthly Payments

While the SSA formula is based on lifetime earnings, there are specific methods to potentially increase monthly checks. Delaying a claim past the Full Retirement Age (FRA)—which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later—increases the monthly benefit by 8% for each year delayed, up to age 70.

For those who are divorced, claiming strategies may provide higher income than an individual’s own work record. You may be able to claim a spousal benefit on your ex’s work record if you were married for at least 10 years before divorcing and you have not remarried. It doesn’t matter if your ex has.

Regional Cost of Living Impacts

Though the benefit amount is determined by federal earnings records rather than geography, the purchasing power of those checks varies by state. In these six states, the shortfall between average benefits and the income needed to cover daily expenses exceeds $20,000 annually.

Does Moving States Change Social Security Benefits?

Does moving to a different state change my Social Security benefit amount?
No. Your benefit is calculated based on your 35 highest-paid years of wages, not your current residence. While the average benefit varies by state because some regions attract higher earners or have higher-paying jobs or companies headquartered there, your personal payment remains tied to your federal work record.

How does the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) affect my payment?
The COLA is a percentage increase applied to all benefits to help them keep pace with inflation. For example, a 2.8% adjustment that took effect in 2026 added roughly $57 per month to the average benefit for a 70-year-old woman.

What happens if I continue to work after I start collecting benefits?
If you have not yet reached your 35-year work history, continuing to work can boost your future checks. Late-in-life earnings can replace years with $0 in the benefit formula, potentially increasing your monthly payment.