Women Receive $409.85 Less in Social Security Than Men, With Gap Reaching $505.54 at 70
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Nov 8
Women Receive $409.85 Less in Social Security Than Men, With Gap Reaching $505.54 at 70
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Nov 8
Summary
$1,872.43 is the average monthly Social Security benefit for women, versus $2,282.28 for men, based on SSA data from December 2025.
The gap appears across every retiree age from 62 to 70 and widens with age, reaching $505.54 a month at age 70 — $2,024.08 for women versus $2,529.62 for men.
SSA ties the disparity to lower lifetime earnings and fewer years in paid work, since benefits are calculated from a worker's highest-earning 35 years.
Women also face a longer payout horizon: a 65-year-old woman is expected to live about 21 more years, versus 18 for a man, stretching smaller checks further.
A 3.6% COLA will lift 2027 payments, while some women may receive higher spousal or survivor benefits tied to a partner's work record.