Men Receive $410 More in Monthly Social Security Benefits Than Women, SSA Reports
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Oct 10
Men Receive $410 More in Monthly Social Security Benefits Than Women, SSA Reports
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Oct 10
Summary
$2,282.28 a month went to men on average in December 2025, versus $1,872.43 for women, leaving a $409.85 gap across all ages, SSA data showed.
The disparity reflects men's historically higher lifetime earnings and longer time in paid work, because Social Security checks are calculated from a worker's 35 highest-earning years.
At age 70, men averaged $2,529.62 and women $2,024.08; for workers with a full retirement age of 67, waiting until 70 boosts benefits 24% through delayed retirement credits.
A 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment took effect in 2026, adding about $71 a month to the average age-70 man's benefit, while the higher earner's record can also raise a surviving spouse's benefit.