The No. 1 state where retirees rely on Social Security isn’t California or Hawaii. New research from GOBankingRates reveals 41% of West Virginia households heavily depend on these benefits.
Why do retirees in such a low cost-of-living state lean on Social Security this much? As it turns out, West Virginia is one of the few states where it’s possible to fund retirement on Social Security alone. According to an October 2025 Realtor.com analysis, these benefits are sufficient enough to cover all essential living costs once retirees have paid off their mortgages.
To determine how much Americans rely on Social Security income, GOBankingRates studied key data like the population ages 65 and over, the number of households receiving retirement income and Social Security income, and the average amounts of said income for the households that receive it in each state. From there, the percentage of households that receive Social Security income and retirement income were calculated and the average total income from retirement and Social Security income was calculated.
Key Findings
- West Virginians depend on Social Security the most out of any state. In the Mountain State, 41% of households are supposed by these benefits while 29% of households rely on retirement income.
- At least 36% of households receive Social Security benefits in the top six states. Aside from West Virginia at 41%, the remaining five states include Hawaii (37.8%), Maine (37.5%), Delaware (36.7%), Florida (36.6%) and Vermont (36.4%).
- Social Security income makes up at least 25% of household income in 49 states. Utah is the only state where Americans rely the least on these benefits, at 23.9%.
- Retirees still need significant retirement savings across the majority of the United States. There are only three states where the total income from Social Security and retirement income amounts to more than $65,000 annually: Hawaii ($65,275), Alaska ($66,262) and Maryland ($66,781).
Here’s how much Americans rely on Social Security in every state. Also, take a look at how far $1.5 million in retirement savings and Social Security goes across the United States.
Learn More: GOBankingRates Original Research Center
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1. West Virginia
- % households with Social Security income: 41%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,454
- % of households with retirement income: 29%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $25,596
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $49,050
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2. Hawaii
- % households with Social Security income: 37.8%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,701
- % of households with retirement income: 31%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $39,574
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $65,275
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3. Maine
- % households with Social Security income: 37.5%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,788
- % of households with retirement income: 27.5%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,624
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,412
4. Delaware
- % households with Social Security income: 36.7%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $27,237
- % of households with retirement income: 32.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,430
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $63,667
5. Florida
- % households with Social Security income: 36.6%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,828
- % of households with retirement income: 25.7%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,158
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $60,986
6. Vermont
- % households with Social Security income: 36.4%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,636
- % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,380
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,016
7. New Mexico
- % households with Social Security income: 35.8%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $22,744
- % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $34,486
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $57,230
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8. Mississippi
- % households with Social Security income: 35.5%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $21,900
- % of households with retirement income: 23.4%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $27,572
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $49,472
9. Alabama
- % households with Social Security income: 35.2%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,538
- % of households with retirement income: 25.7%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $29,495
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $53,033
10. South Carolina
- % households with Social Security income: 35.1%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,889
- % of households with retirement income: 27.1%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,648
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,537
11. Pennsylvania
- % households with Social Security income: 35.1%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,783
- % of households with retirement income: 27.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $29,353
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,136
12. Arkansas
- % households with Social Security income: 35%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,099
- % of households with retirement income: 23.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $25,775
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $48,874
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13. Michigan
- % households with Social Security income: 34.9%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,306
- % of households with retirement income: 28.1%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,787
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,093
14. New Hampshire
- % households with Social Security income: 34.9%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,038
- % of households with retirement income: 27.5%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,744
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $58,782
15. Montana
- % households with Social Security income: 34.7%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,719
- % of households with retirement income: 25%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $31,521
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,240
16. Kentucky
- % households with Social Security income: 34.6%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $22,523
- % of households with retirement income: 25.8%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,217
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $50,740
17. Arizona
- % households with Social Security income: 34%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,846
- % of households with retirement income: 26.6%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $33,780
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,626
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18. Rhode Island
- % households with Social Security income: 33.7%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,173
- % of households with retirement income: 25.4%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,100
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,273
19. Oregon
- % households with Social Security income: 33%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,228
- % of households with retirement income: 25.4%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $33,866
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,094
20. Wyoming
- % households with Social Security income: 32.9%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,894
- % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,160
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $57,054
21. Missouri
- % households with Social Security income: 32.8%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,786
- % of households with retirement income: 25.7%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,692
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,478
22. Idaho
- % households with Social Security income: 32.8%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,162
- % of households with retirement income: 25.6%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $31,767
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,929
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23. Wisconsin
- % households with Social Security income: 32.7%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,671
- % of households with retirement income: 26.9%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,282
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,953
24. Tennessee
- % households with Social Security income: 32.5%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,229
- % of households with retirement income: 23.6%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,521
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,750
25. Connecticut
- % households with Social Security income: 32.2%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,030
- % of households with retirement income: 26%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $37,230
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $63,260
26. New York
- % households with Social Security income: 32.2%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,021
- % of households with retirement income: 24.8%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $35,144
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,165
27. Ohio
- % households with Social Security income: 32.1%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,080
- % of households with retirement income: 26.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,541
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $53,621
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28. North Carolina
- % households with Social Security income: 32%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,506
- % of households with retirement income: 24.5%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,271
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,777
29. Oklahoma
- % households with Social Security income: 31.9%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,616
- % of households with retirement income: 22.9%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,707
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,323
30. Louisiana
- % households with Social Security income: 31.8%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $21,191
- % of households with retirement income: 21.8%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $29,728
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $50,919
31. Indiana
- % households with Social Security income: 31.8%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,883
- % of households with retirement income: 25%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $24,630
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $49,513
32. Iowa
- % households with Social Security income: 31.6%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,976
- % of households with retirement income: 24.4%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $27,133
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,109
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33. New Jersey
- % households with Social Security income: 31.4%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,170
- % of households with retirement income: 24.7%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $35,825
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $61,995
34. Nevada
- % households with Social Security income: 31.2%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,650
- % of households with retirement income: 24.5%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,093
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,743
35. South Dakota
- % households with Social Security income: 31%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,344
- % of households with retirement income: 22.1%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,314
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $51,658
36. Kansas
- % households with Social Security income: 30.7%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,491
- % of households with retirement income: 24.6%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,694
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $54,185
37. Massachusetts
- % households with Social Security income: 30%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,428
- % of households with retirement income: 23%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,843
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $61,271
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38. Minnesota
- % households with Social Security income: 30%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,927
- % of households with retirement income: 24.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $30,828
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $56,755
39. Virginia
- % households with Social Security income: 29.9%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,098
- % of households with retirement income: 26.8%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $38,965
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $64,063
40. Georgia
- % households with Social Security income: 29.3%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,669
- % of households with retirement income: 22.4%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $31,564
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,233
41. Nebraska
- % households with Social Security income: 29.3%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,993
- % of households with retirement income: 21.7%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,510
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $53,503
42. Illinois
- % households with Social Security income: 29.2%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,173
- % of households with retirement income: 23.9%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,075
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $60,248
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43. Washington
- % households with Social Security income: 29%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,009
- % of households with retirement income: 24.1%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $35,403
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $61,412
44. Maryland
- % households with Social Security income: 28.5%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $25,101
- % of households with retirement income: 26.1%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $41,680
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $66,781
45. California
- % households with Social Security income: 28.4%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,818
- % of households with retirement income: 21.7%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $40,267
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $64,085
46. North Dakota
- % households with Social Security income: 28%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,520
- % of households with retirement income: 19.7%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $28,888
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $52,408
47. Alaska
- % households with Social Security income: 25.6%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $22,327
- % of households with retirement income: 24.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $43,935
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $66,262
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48. Colorado
- % households with Social Security income: 25.6%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $24,827
- % of households with retirement income: 22.3%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $37,797
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $62,624
49. Texas
- % households with Social Security income: 25.4%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $23,233
- % of households with retirement income: 19.2%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $32,313
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $55,546
50. Utah
- % households with Social Security income: 23.9%
- Average Social Security income for households that receive it: $26,142
- % of households with retirement income: 20.6%
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $33,767
- Total income from Social Security and retirement income: $59,909
Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Methodology: All data comes from the U.S. Census 5-Year American Community Survey. The states were sorted to show the highest percentage of households that receive Social Security income. All data is up to date as of Feb. 3, 2026.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Americans Rely on Social Security in Every State in 2026
