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.
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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.
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% 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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% 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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% 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
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% 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
Wirestock / Getty Images
% 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
SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
benedek / Getty Images
% 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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% 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
peeterv / Getty Images
% 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
% 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
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
% 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
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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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% 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
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
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% 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
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% 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
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% 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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% 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
benedek / Getty Images
% 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
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
% 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
peeterv / Getty Images
% 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
knowlesgallery / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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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% 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
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
benedek / Getty Images
% 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
deberarr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
% 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
JTSorrell / Getty Images
% 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
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
Geoff Eccles / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
pabradyphoto / Getty Images
% 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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% 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
gchapel / Getty Images
% 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
pabradyphoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
peterspiro / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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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% 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
ferrantraite / Getty Images
% 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
RobHainer / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
MidwestWilderness / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
tunart / Getty Images
% 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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Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
sborisov / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
frankpeters / Getty Images
% 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
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
% 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
Debbie Ann Powell / Getty Images
% 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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% 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
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
% 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
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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