Understanding Social Security Benefits for Women

Social Security plays a significant role in planning for retirement, and it’s essential to understand how the expected benefits compare nationally. Women, in particular, face a noticeable gap in benefits compared to men—a divide rooted in decades of earnings history, not the calculation methods of the benefit itself.

So, what does the average woman actually get? Why is the gap there? And what can be done to bridge it before retirement kicks in?

Average Benefits Received by Women

The Social Security Administration reports that a 70-year-old woman receives an average monthly check of $2,204, while a 70-year-old man averages $2,530. That’s around a 13% difference. For those retiring at 62, men generally earn about $1,573 a month compared to women’s $1,286—a disparity of $287 each month, which totals about $3,444 a year.

As people claim benefits later, the amount of disparity increases. Overall, retired men get about $401.50 more each month than women, which amounts to roughly $4,817 annually. It’s crucial to understand that this isn’t due to the Social Security system treating individuals differently. The same formulas are used for everyone. The disparity comes strictly from differences in lifetime earnings reflected in these calculations.

Reasons for the Disparity

Benefits are calculated based on a worker’s highest 35 earning years, adjusted for inflation, to determine their average monthly income. Then, that figure is used to compute the main insurance amount to be paid at full retirement age.

Two primary factors contribute to the wage gap here. First, there’s the wage disparity itself. As stated by the Economic Policy Institute, women earned an average of 18.6% less than men in 2025, even after accounting for various factors like race, education, and marital status. This wage gap means that women, even with equivalent qualifications as their male colleagues, tend to have lower lifetime earnings, affecting their Social Security benefits.

The second factor is career interruptions. Many women take time off to care for children, elderly family members, or other responsibilities. If they’ve not worked for at least 35 years, those years without income count as zeros in the calculation, adversely affecting their average benefit despite higher earnings during working years.

Steps to Address the Gap

While individuals can’t change the benefit formulas, there are strategies to influence the inputs that go into them.

Consider Working for 35 Years

Having fewer than 35 years of recorded income diminishes the average because the calculation fills gaps with zeros. So, if you’re working and have less than 35 years, extending your career can replace those zeros, often leading to a more substantial benefit than expected.

Maximize Your Earnings

Only your top 35 years of earnings count. Therefore, even if you’ve worked for 35 years already, achieving a raise or promotion later can replace lower-earning years from your past, significantly boosting your average monthly income.

Delay Filing for Benefits

If you begin claiming at age 62, your benefits could be permanently lowered, potentially by up to 30%. Waiting until full retirement age—or even better, until age 70—could yield significant increases, with around an 8% boost for each year past full retirement age.

Know About Spousal and Survivor Benefits

Women can claim spousal benefits of up to 50% of their spouse’s primary insurance amount. If that exceeds their own benefit, they can opt for a survivor benefit equivalent to up to 100% of their deceased spouse’s benefit. This is especially vital since women generally live longer—about five years more than men—making planning for survivor benefits crucial if they outlive their partners significantly.

Conclusion

The reality is that women typically receive lower Social Security benefits than men due to long-standing pay inequalities and caregiving roles often taken on during their careers. The term “benefit” seems neutral, but unraveling the input reveals disparities.

Being aware of where you stand concerning these averages is important. However, the journey is not solely shaped by what you’ve done in the past. You can still take proactive steps, whether that’s working extra years, maximizing your income, delaying benefit claims, or understanding survivor benefits—these facets are manageable even if previous earnings were lower.

FAQ

Can a stay-at-home mom receive Social Security benefits?

Yes, a woman who hasn’t been employed outside the home can still claim a spousal benefit worth up to 50% of her husband’s primary insurance, and she may also receive a survivor benefit amounting to 100% of her husband’s benefit after his passing, as long as specific marriage and age criteria are met.

Does divorce impact a woman’s Social Security benefits?

No, a divorce doesn’t diminish a woman’s benefits from her work record. However, if married for at least 10 years, she might claim up to half of her ex-husband’s primary insurance without affecting her current benefits—this holds true even if he remarries.

Why do women receive less in Social Security benefits compared to men?

Lower lifetime earnings generally lead to smaller benefits. Women, on average, earn less than men and are more likely to take time off for family commitments, which ultimately reduces their future Social Security benefits.