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"What is the average Social Security check in 2022"
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Average Social Security Check for 2022

August 22, 2022September 10, 2022 kuadey@gmail.com

How Much Is the Average Social Security Check for 2022? We answer this question and more in the post below, including the average Social Security check by age. Learn how much you are likely to receive if you retire at 62, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, and beyond.

"Average Social Security Benefit Amounts"

What is the Average Social Security Check for 2022

Here are the average Social Security checks for 2022, including other relevant numbers for the year, according to the Social Security Administration.

The average Social Security Check for all retired workers is $1,657.

See below for the other average checks by category.

Estimated Average Monthly Social Security Benefits Payable in January 2022
2021 2022
Before 2022 5.9% COLA After 2022 5.9% COLA
All Retired Workers $1,565 $1,657
Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits $2,599 $2,753
Widowed Mother and Two Children $3,009 $3,187
Aged Widow(er) Alone $1,467 $1,553
Disabled Worker, Spouse, and One or More Children $2,250 $2,383
All Disabled Workers $1,282 $1,358

Other Social Security Benefit Amounts

Other Social Security Benefit Amounts
2021 2022
Maximum Social Security Benefit: Worker Retiring at Full Retirement Age $3,148/mo $3,345/mo
SSI Federal Payment Standard $ 794/mo. $ 841/mo
Individual $1,191/mo. $1,261/mo
Couple
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
Non-Blind $1,310/mo. $1,350/mo.
Blind $2,190/mo. $2,260/mo.
Trial Work Period (TWP) $ 940/mo. $ 970/mo.

Average Social Security Check by Age

Below is the average Social Security check by age for 2020, according to this Motley Fool report:

Age Average Benefit Age Average Benefit
62 $1,130 81 $1,515
63 $1,161 82 $1,494
64 $1,229 83 $1,459
65 $1,321 84 $1,426
66 $1,489 85 $1,415
67 $1,504 86 $1,415
68 $1,522 87 $1,431
69 $1,522 88 $1,435
70 $1,612 89 $1,430
71 $1,627 90 $1,430
72 $1,615 91 $1,435
73 $1,618 92 $1,444
74 $1,592 93 $1,442
75 $1,576 94 $1,435
76 $1,568 95 $1,435
77 $1,574 96 $1,415
78 $1,570 97 $1,409
79 $1,563 98 $1,399
80 $1,536 99 and over $1,422

What is the maximum monthly Social Security benefit?

Here is the maximum Social Security monthly benefit for 2022 by retirement age:

Average Benefits at age:

62: $2,364
65: $2,993
66: $3,240
70: $4,194

2022 Social Security FAQS

Here are the most frequently asked questions about Social Security Benefits in 2022:

What is the Full Retirement Age for 2022?

The table below shows the full retirement age based on the year you were born:

Age to receive full Social Security benefits
Year of birth Full retirement age
1943-1954 66
1955 66 and 2 months
1956 66 and 4 months
1957 66 and 6 months
1958 66 and 8 months
1959 66 and 10 months
1960 and later 67

NOTE: People born on January 1 of any year, refer to the previous year. 

How much Social Security will I get if I only worked 10 years?

You need at least 10 years of work (40 credits) to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits.

The Social Security Administration will calculate how much you will get in benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings.

However, If you do not have 35 years of earnings by the time you apply for Social Security, your benefit amount will be lower than it would be if you worked 35 years.

In an example provided by AARP, a single person born in 1960 who has averaged a $50,000 salary, would get $1,349 a month by retiring at 62.

However, the same person would get $1,927 by waiting until age 67, the full retirement age.

Furthermore, he or she would get $2,389, the maximum benefit on those earnings, by waiting until age 70.

As mentioned earlier above, Social Security benefits do not increase if you wait to collect past age 70.

How is Social Security COLA Calculated?

The Social Security Act specifies a formula for determining each COLA.

According to the formula, COLAs are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

CPI-Ws are calculated on a monthly basis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Social Security Administration uses average inflation in the third quarter, based on the CPI-W, to calculate the benefit adjustment for the following year.

The first COLA was announced in June 1975.

Since then, the Social Security Administration has been announcing annual adjustments to Social Security benefits based on increases in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

Here are the COLA rates for the last 20 years:

As you can see, the COLA announced for 2021 was 5.9% and that went into effect in January 2022.

Year COLA Year COLA
2021 5.90% 2011 3.60%
2020 1.30% 2010 0%
2019 1.60% 2009 0%
2018 2.80% 2008 5.80%
2017 2.00% 2007 2.30%
2016 0.30% 2006 3.30%
2015 0% 2005 4.10%
2014 1.70% 2004 2.70%
2013 1.50% 2003 2.10%
2012 1.70% 2002 1.40%

Average Social Security Check Summary

We hope this post on the Average Social Security Check was helpful.

Questions?

If you still have questions, you should leave a comment below.

However, what may be an even greater help is to join our FREE Facebook members group about Making Sense of Social Security Benefits.

It’s a very active group with some really smart people who love to answer any questions you may have about Social Security Benefits.

Also, from time to time, our team of editors drop in to contribute and answer questions.

Finally, be sure to check out our other articles about Social Security and Disability Benefits, including:

  • Can I get a loan with my Direct Express card?
  • Social Security Income Limit for 2022
  • Social Security Changes in 2022
  • 2022 Minimum Social Security Benefit
  • What is the maximum Social Security benefit at age 62?
  • COLA Increase for the Coming Year
  • Social Security Office Near Me
  • How Social Security is Calculated
  • Direct Deposit for Social Security Benefits

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