- Goodbye to full Social Security benefits at 65: SSA raised the retirement age starting this month
- How much do you get in your Social Security check if you make $25,000 a year in 2025?
Social Security is an essential source of income for millions of people in the United States, but the amount each person receives can vary considerably. In May 2025, the average monthly check for all beneficiaries is $1,839.83, according to the latest data from the Social Security istration (SSA). However, if you are a retired worker, you are likely to be receiving more than that figure.
In fact, the average benefit for retired workers in May 2025 is $1,980.86, which is approximately 8% higher than the overall average. This difference is because the program covers several types of beneficiaries, each with different amounts.
Although most people associate Social Security with retirement, it also covers people with disabilities, widows and widowers, as well as minor children of retired or deceased workers. Here is a breakdown of the average monthly benefit by type of beneficiary:
- All beneficiaries: $1,839.83
- Retirement benefits: $1,931.20
- Retired workers: $1,980.86
- Survivor benefits: $1,547.26
- Non-disabled widows/widowers: $1,837.16
- Disability benefits: $1,439.42
- Disabled workers: $1,580.76
As can be seen, retirement benefits for the largest percentage (79.6%) of the total distributed. The remainder is divided between disability benefits (12%) and survivor benefits (8.4%).
To ensure that benefits do not lose value over time, the SSA applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which is based on inflation. In 2025, this adjustment was 2.5%, following increases of 3.2% in 2024 and 8.7% in 2023. This means that if someone was receiving $1,000 in 2015, in 2025 they would be receiving $1,318.03.
What is the maximum monthly benefit?
The maximum amount you can receive from Social Security depends on several factors: your income during your working life, the age at which you start receiving benefits, and COLA increases. For 2025, the maximum initial monthly benefit is:
- At age 62: $2,831
- At full retirement age: $4,018
- At 70 years old: $5,108
These amounts assume a career path with earnings at the maximum taxable level from age 22. In 2025, that earnings limit is $176,100.
While Social Security can be an important part of your retirement income, it is not designed to replace 100% of your previous salary. That's why it's important to supplement this income with personal savings or private retirement plans. It's also important to carefully choose the age at which you start collecting your benefits, as this can impact the monthly amount for the rest of your life.