Retirees in These 10 States Get the Most From Social Security

1 hour ago 4

Kailey Hagen, CFP, The Motley Fool

Sat, February 14, 2026 astatine 3:50 PM CST 2 min read

Living disconnected Social Security unsocial isn't easy, nary substance wherever you live, but it tin look rather antithetic from 1 authorities to the next. For some, it means scraping by connected little than $1,900 per month, portion for others, checks spell overmuch further.

Here's a person look astatine which states person the largest mean monthly benefits, according to information from the Social Security Administration.

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Seniors successful the pursuing 10 states person the largest mean Social Security benefits, arsenic of 2024. The array beneath besides includes estimates for what their mean 2026 benefits mightiness look similar aft adding successful the 2.5% cost-of-living accommodation (COLA) for 2025 and the 2.8% COLA for 2026.

State

Average Monthly Benefit (2024)

Estimated Monthly Benefit (2026)

New Hampshire

$2,359.50

$2,486.21

Connecticut

$2,342.20

$2,467.98

Maryland

$2,297.26

$2,420.62

New Jersey

$2,291.59

$2,414.65

Delaware

$2,251.59

$2,372.50

Massachusetts

$2,243.46

$2,363.93

Minnesota

$2,228.27

$2,347.93

Washington

$2,210.17

$2,328.86

Rhode Island

$2,192.99

$2,310.75

Virginia

$2,178.00

$2,294.96

Data source: Social Security Administration. Calculations and illustration by author.

While immoderate states person higher averages successful portion due to the fact that of higher mean incomes, residents of immoderate authorities tin bushed the benefits shown above.

Understanding the factors that spell into your payment calculation is simply a bully archetypal step. Once you cognize what affects your checks, you tin marque moves to maximize them truthful you tin bask the astir comfy status possible.

If you're similar astir Americans, you're a fewer years (or more) down connected your status savings. But a fistful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could assistance guarantee a boost successful your status income. For example: one casual instrumentality could wage you arsenic overmuch arsenic $23,760 more... each year! Once you larn however to maximize your Social Security benefits, we deliberation you could discontinue confidently with the bid of caput we're each after.

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View the "Social Security secrets" »

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Retirees successful These 10 States Get the Most From Social Security was primitively published by The Motley Fool

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