Retirement income for Americans over 70 can look surprisingly different from one household to the next. In 2026, the average Social Security retirement benefit for someone ages 70 to 74 was about $2,083 per month, or just under $25,000 a year.
That number sounds straightforward until the phrase “retirement income” enters the room and starts rearranging the furniture. Social Security represents only one piece of the retirement-income puzzle, and pensions, 401(k) withdrawals, IRA distributions, investment income, rental income, and even part-time work can change the monthly picture dramatically.
