- Florida has a lot of retired people — over 3 million — but the average Social Security check in the sunshine state is lower than the national average.
- Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey are the only states where the average Social Security retirement benefit is above $1,500.
The states where people get the most money from Social Security, ranked
Social Security retirement benefits average about $1,400 a month for American retirees. See the average benefit amount in every state.
Millions of Americans rely on Social Security retirement benefits.
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But not everyone takes home the same amount in Social Security benefits. In 24 states, the average retiree receives a monthly Social Security check worth less than $1,400. Three states have an average Social Security retirement benefit above $1,500, but none surpass $1,600.
The differences between some states are stark. For instance, Montana has about 15,000 more retirees than Delaware, but Delaware's total Social Security retirement benefits exceed Montana's by about $7 million. The average retiree gets roughly $125 more each month in Delaware than in Montana. Delaware has the third highest average Social Security retirement benefit amount, while Montana is in the bottom five states.
Below, see the average Social Security retirement benefit in every state and Washington DC, ranked from the lowest to the highest.
51. Louisiana
Average Social Security retirement benefit: $1,311.72
Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
Number of retirees:
50. Maine
Average Social Security retirement benefit:
Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
Number of retirees:
49. Mississippi
Average Social Security retirement benefit: $1,319.06
Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
Number of retirees:
48. New Mexico
Average Social Security retirement benefit: $1,323.16
Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
Number of retirees:
47. Montana
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Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
Number of retirees:
46. Arkansas
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Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
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45. South Dakota
Average Social Security retirement benefit: $1,336.28
Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
Number of retirees:
44. Kentucky
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43. Washington, DC
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42. Alaska
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41. North Dakota
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40. Oklahoma
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39. Idaho
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38. Texas
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37. California
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36. Nevada
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35. Alabama
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34. Georgia
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33. Missouri
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32. West Virginia
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31. Ohio
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30. Hawaii
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29. Tennessee
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28. Florida
Average Social Security retirement benefit:
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27. North Carolina
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26. Oregon
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25. Nebraska
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24. Colorado
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23. Iowa
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22. South Carolina
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21. Vermont
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20. Wyoming
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19. Rhode Island
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18. Arizona
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17. Illinois
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16. Utah
Average Social Security retirement benefit: $1,437.30
Total Social Security retirement benefits: $
Number of retirees:
15. Wisconsin
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Number of retirees:
14. Virginia
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13. Massachusetts
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12. Kansas
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11. Pennsylvania
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10. Minnesota
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9. New York
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8. Indiana
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7. Washington
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6. Maryland
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5. Michigan
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4. New Hampshire
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3. Delaware
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2. Connecticut
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1. New Jersey
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