1. Home
  2. More
  3. 15 States Where Retirees Get the Most Social Security
  • Sign up
  • Sign in
Money Talks News
  • Popular
  • Latest
    • Ask Stacy
    • Make
    • Save
    • Borrow
    • Grow
    • Live
    • More
  • Deals
    • Automotive
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Computers
    • Electronics
    • Everything Else
    • Financial Services
    • Gaming & Toys
    • Health & Beauty
    • Home & Garden
    • Movies, Music & Books
    • Office & Supplies
    • Special Occasion
    • Sports & Fitness
    • Store Events
    • Travel & Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Solutions
  • Academy
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Search our site
11 Secret Ways Americans Build Wealth11 Secret Ways Americans Build Wealth
10 Dumb Mistakes Nearly Everyone Over 40 Makes10 Dumb Mistakes Nearly Everyone Over 40 Makes
Angry driver in traffic gestures with his hand10 States With the Most Confrontational Drivers
Teen working out in a gym9 Things You Can Get for Free in June

15 States Where Retirees Get the Most Social Security

Is your Social Security payment as much as that of retirees in these states?

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Marilyn Lewis • December 18, 2020

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by Email Printable version available to members PDF version available to members
Wealthy senior couple outside their home
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

How big will your Social Security payments be when you retire? Will you get as much as retirees in the states where the average benefit is highest?

We used new data from Social Security’s latest annual statistical report to rank the 15 states where average payments are greatest for retired workers. The report reflects data from December 2019, the latest such data available.

Our ranking also includes the average monthly amounts paid to to widows and widowers collecting survivors’ benefits, and to the disabled.

Survivors may get as much as 100% of their late spouse’s Social Security payment, although maximizing survivor benefits can be tricky, as we report in “This Type of Social Security Benefit Is Often Overlooked.”

Nationally, the average monthly Social Security payment to retired workers is $1,503. State by state, the average benefit for retirees ranges from a low of $1,399 to a high of $1,663.

It’s tempting to assume that beneficiaries in the top-ranked states are more flush that their peers elsewhere. But that’s not necessarily so, since the cost of living also is higher in most of these bigger-benefit states.

Our list starts with the state with the 15th-highest average retirement benefit payment. The state with the highest average benefit check is last.

15. Utah

Arches National Park
Anton Foltin / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,548.75
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,553.94
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,196.12
happy retirement seniors dinner
See Also:
How to Pick the Perfect Time to Retire

14. Virginia

Arlington, Virginia
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,553.37
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,454.35
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,206.89

13. New York

New York City
littlenySTOCK / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,553.93
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,473.87
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,229.19

12. Kansas

Clinton Lake
Sarah Renee Peltzman / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,556.97
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,522.30
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,166.19

11. Massachusetts

Massachusetts Capitol
Stefan Ugljevarevic / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,557.35
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,487.12
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,200.10

10. Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
James Kirkikis / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,558.30
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,503.21
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,201.17

9. Indiana

Indianapolis
f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,562.16
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,541.77
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,199.48

8. Minnesota

Duluth, Minnesota
welcomia / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,569.14
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,511.27
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,185.33

7. Washington

Tacoma, Washington
Druid007 / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,582.81
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,534.66
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,221.08

6. Michigan

Detroit, Michigan
Harold Stiver / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,590.98
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,556.27
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,228.28

5. Maryland

Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
KhanIM / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,598.79
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,505.06
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,249.15

4. New Hampshire

Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,618.53
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,571.00
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,237.86

3. Delaware

Delaware Bay
Bruce Goerlitz Photo / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,632.66
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,561.06
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,286.17

2. Connecticut

Snowstorm in Stamford, Connecticut
barbsimages / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,658.75
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,596.49
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,239.10

1. New Jersey

Morristown, New Jersey
mandritoiu / Shutterstock.com

Average monthly benefit among:

  • Retired workers (nondisabled): $1,662.82
  • Widows and widowers (nondisabled): $1,575.04
  • All disabled beneficiaries (includes workers, widows and widowers and children): $1,315.53

  Like Article   Add a Comment

Sign up for our free newsletter!

Simple ways to make, save, and grow your money daily:

  happy subscribers    
MTN Podcasts

Every week our podcasts bring you lively money discussions that will give you a few laughs along with advice that will make you richer.

Money with Stacy Johnson

Listen/Subscribe

Read Next

Some of our favorite stories for you to read next.

11 Secret Ways Americans Build Wealth
11 Secret Ways Americans Build Wealth
Angry man with money
Why Is My Pension Killing My Social Security Benefit?
Seniors planning for retirement
5 Simple Steps to an Awesome Retirement
Sign up for our free newsletter!

Join our many free newsletter subscribers building wealth and destroying debt:

Popular Topics
  • Retirement Investment
  • Surveys for Money
  • How to Make Money Online
  • Emergency Stockpile
  • Free Movie Streaming
  • Senior Discounts
Connect
  • Support & FAQs
  • Memberships
  • About
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Accessibility Statement
Media
  • Television
  • Where We Air
  • Scripts
  • Sitemap
Legal
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
Editorial
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Ownership & Funding Info

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

© 2023 Money Talks News. All Rights Reserved.
‭1 (833) 669-8557 | 1732 1st Ave #26661, New York, NY 10128

Advertising Disclosure: This site may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website.

Add a Comment

Our Policy: We welcome relevant and respectful comments in order to foster healthy and informative discussions. All other comments may be removed. Comments with links are automatically held for moderation.

Cookie Notice

Our website uses cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy to learn more.

Sign up for our free newsletter!

Join our happy subscribers and sign up for our free newsletter! You'll get:

  • Tips and advice from our expert money reporters. (Our average experience is 18 years!)
  • Unexpected ways to make more and spend less, delivered to you daily.
  • The best deals and coupons to save on everything you buy.