Women’s Average Social Security Benefits Below Men’s Across Ages
Data shows that women’s social security benefits trail behind men’s for all age groups. This overview highlights the figures for retirees between 62 and 70 years old.
As of December 2025, women receive an average monthly benefit of $1,872.43, while men average $2,282.28, according to information from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This creates a monthly disparity of $409.85.
Average Benefits for Women by Age
The SSA determines your benefit based on your 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation and calculated through a standard formula known as the primary insurance amount (PIA). Since this formula is consistent, the variations in average benefits represent differences in earning histories and when individuals choose to claim their benefits.
Full retirement age (FRA) ranges from 66 to 67, contingent on your birth year, with those born in 1960 or later facing an FRA of 67. Claiming benefits before reaching this age could lead to reductions as high as 30%. Conversely, waiting until age 70 to claim can increase benefits by 8% annually due to delayed retirement credits.
The gap in benefits widens as retirees age. At age 70, men receive an average of $2,529.62, compared to $2,024.08 for women, resulting in a difference of about $505.54 each month. Below is a breakdown of average benefits from ages 62 to 70 as of December 2025, according to the latest data.
| Age | Women’s Average | Men’s Average |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | $1,285.50 | $1,572.83 |
| 63 | $1,300.20 | $1,580.81 |
| 64 | $1,342.07 | $1,624.93 |
| 65 | $1,457.40 | $1,772.00 |
| 66 | $1,629.09 | $1,998.75 |
| 67 | $1,801.82 | $2,234.41 |
| 68 | $1,836.58 | $2,272.40 |
| 69 | $1,876.96 | $2,321.96 |
| 70 | $2,024.08 | $2,529.62 |
Understanding the Gender Gap in Benefits
The differences in benefits can largely be traced back to historical variations in lifetime earnings and the number of years spent in the workforce. Since women often have lower average Social Security payouts, these benefits must last longer. Statistics suggest that a 65-year-old woman today is likely to live about 21 more years, whereas her male counterpart can expect roughly 18 additional years.
A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 3.6% is set to be implemented in 2027. Although not reflected in the table above, this adjustment will add approximately $73 to the average monthly benefit for women aged 70.
Social Security aims to replace only about 40% of pre-retirement earnings, which often leaves many retirees short of covering their expenses. Consequently, most individuals need to rely on personal savings or other income sources to complement their benefits.
For further insights into how Social Security influences retirement, there are more resources available to read.
Variations for Some Married Women
The aforementioned statistics focus on retirement benefits, yet many women end up claiming spousal or survivor benefits based on their partner’s work record, as these figures can exceed their own entitlement.
Spousal benefits can equal up to half of what a partner is eligible for at their FRA. However, it’s important to note that your spouse must already be receiving benefits for you to claim this amount. Unlike retirement benefits, spousal amounts only accrue until you reach FRA, so delaying them longer doesn’t provide additional advantages.
If you receive a spousal benefit, you will also be eligible for a survivor benefit following your partner’s passing—this can be worth up to 100% of the amount they were receiving or were eligible to receive at the time of death.
To understand the value of these benefits for your situation and the application process, it’s advisable to reach out to the Social Security Administration either by phone or by booking an appointment with your local office.
