Retirement Social Security

Could You Get By on the Average Social Security Check? Here’s the Reality

Living on Social Security alone may be easier said than done.

By Maurie Backman , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated April 29, 2026

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Many working Americans are sold on the myth that Social Security is the ticket to a stress-free retirement. And that may be true if those monthly benefits are only one piece of your retirement income puzzle. But living on those benefits alone is extremely tough.

The Social Security Administration says itself that those monthly benefits are only meant to replace about 40% of a typical wage. Many people can't afford a pay cut that large, which is why seniors who only have Social Security to rely on in retirement often end up struggling.

If you're thinking you can get by on the average Social Security retirement check, which is $2,079.49 today, here's a harsh reality check.

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Social Security benefits can't even cover basics

In 2024, the average American 65 and older spent $61,432 a year, or $5,119 a month, on living costs. Seeing as how the average Social Security retirement benefit isn't even half that amount, it's no wonder so many seniors struggle on Social Security alone.

Meanwhile, in 2024, the typical senior 65 and over spent:

$22,193 on housing
$9,538 on transportation
$7,940 on food

On a monthly basis, that's:

$1,849 on housing
$795 on transportation
$662 on food

The average monthly $2,079.49 Social Security benefit can't cover all three. Housing alone eats up most of that check.

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Health care costs eat heavily into benefits

In addition to essentials like housing, food, and transportation, health care may end up being a big retirement expense for you. Fidelity says the typical 65-year-old who retired in 2025 could expect to spend $172,500 on health care expenses throughout their senior years. If you have chronic health issues, your total number could be higher.

Compounding the issue is that the cost of Medicare Part B tends to rise from year to year. In 2026, the standard monthly premium increased by $17.90 compared to 2025. That increase alone is significant when your total monthly paycheck is just $2,079.49.

Cost-of-living adjustments don't go very far

Another problem with living on just Social Security is that the program's cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, don't tend to do a great job of helping retirees keep up with inflation. And part of that stems from a flaw in the way COLAs are calculated.

COLAs are based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). But the CPI-W measures costs faced by working Americans, and less so by retirees.

The Senior Citizens League found that between 2010 and 2024, Social Security benefits lost 20% of their buying power. And a big reason cited was insufficient COLAs. The group has proposed basing COLAs on a senior-specific index that more accurately captures the costs retirees tend to face.

Another issue with COLAs is that seniors who are enrolled in Social Security and Medicare at the same time have their Part B premiums deducted from their monthly benefits directly. This means any time there's a large increase in the cost of Medicare Part B, those raises can get eroded quickly.

This year, the average monthly Social Security check was supposed to rise by $56 due to the 2.8% COLA benefits received in January. But a $17.90 increase in Part B basically wiped out one-third of that raise. And the same thing could easily happen in future years.

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Know what benefit to expect

The amount of money you're eligible to collect from Social Security in retirement hinges on a few factors, including the number of years you worked, your wages during your career, and your age for claiming benefits.

Social Security has a minimum benefit that changes yearly. In 2025, it was $1,123.70 for someone with a 30-year work history. Meanwhile, the maximum monthly benefit available in 2026 is $5,181. That number is only attainable for high earners who delay Social Security until age 70.

It's important to know how much money Social Security will pay you so you can budget for retirement and, ideally, understand why having outside income is key. The best way to know what benefit to expect is to create an account on SSA.gov and access your most recent earnings statement.

Bottom line

Being too reliant on Social Security could seriously mess with your retirement plans. While those benefits might help cover your costs, you shouldn't expect to be able to pay all of your expenses on just Social Security (unless, of course, you're willing to seriously cut corners).

Rather than set yourself up to be cash-strapped in retirement, aim to find ways to supplement your Social Security checks. Those could include working part-time, building savings you can draw from strategically, and investing in assets that pay you regularly, like CDs, bonds, and dividend stocks. You may also want to consider delaying your Social Security claim until age 70 to maximize your monthly checks.

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