Women Receive $4,800 Less in Annual Social Security Benefits as They Rely on It More
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 30
Women Receive $4,800 Less in Annual Social Security Benefits as They Rely on It More
2 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 30
Summary
AARP found women collect about $4,800 less a year in Social Security retirement benefits than men, even though they depend more heavily on the program for retirement income.
Women earned a median $1,098 a week in early 2026 versus $1,362 for men, and 61% of caregivers are women—two factors that often cut lifetime earnings and retirement savings.
Claiming age can widen or ease that gap: starting at 62 can reduce benefits to 70% of the full amount, while waiting from full retirement age to 70 raises payments 8% per year.
Longevity raises the stakes for women, who live about five years longer on average and face higher lifetime paid-care costs—$350,000 after age 65 versus $250,000 for men.
More than 63 million Americans receive Social Security retirement benefits, including about 28 million retired women workers; spousal and survivor rules can further shape women's payouts.