How Much Does the Average Person Get from Social Security Retirement?

Is how Much Does the Average Person Get from Social Security Retirement something you want to understand? Find out the complete facts in our feature story.

Earnings. The SSA averages your monthly earnings over the 35 years that you earned the most. Higher lifetime earnings translates into higher Social Security benefits. If you’re married, then the amount each spouse receives depends on their work history.

Why is Social Security the dominant source of retirement income?

With almost 90% of older Americans receiving Social Security benefits, it is the dominant source of retirement income, according to the research. Yet for many elder Americans, those Social Security checks still fall short of what they need. That’s because Social Security replaces just 40% of pre-retirement income, on average.