When I was born in the early 1980s, the world looked very different from what it looks like today. Cell phones were huge, with a high price tag and limited features, and VCRs were starting to become popular but were still pricey.
One thing was the same though: My grandparents, and millions of other retirees, got Social Security checks to help them fund their retirement. In fact, I remember my grandmother waiting for her Social Security check to come (via the postal mail, of course) to buy little treats.
Of course, retirees didn't get the same amount of Social Security back then as they do now.
Let's take a look at the average benefit retirees collected in 1985, and see how it has changed over time.
Image source: Getty Images.
Here's what the average Social Security benefit was in 1985
According to the Social Security Administration, as of the end of 1985:
- The average monthly benefit for retired workers was $479.
- The average benefit for spouses was $246.
- The average benefit for workers with disabilities was $484.
- The average benefit for non-disabled widows and widowers receiving survivor benefits was $433.
Obviously, this doesn't sound like a lot of money -- and it really wasn't.
The $479 monthly check seniors got in 1985 was worth $1,435.09 in 2025's dollars, according to the Federal Reserve.
Here's what today's average Social Security benefit is
Today, the Social Security Administration reports that the average benefit in 2026 was $2,071 among all retired workers and $1,630 among all workers with disabilities.
Social Security benefits have increased over time because otherwise, buying power would not have kept pace with inflation. Today's retirees wouldn't be able to do much with their money if the average check amount was still just $479 because things cost a lot more these days.
Unfortunately, there's evidence that they have not increased enough, with the Senior Citizens League reporting that benefits have lost 20% of their buying power since 2010.
The formula used for Social Security COLAs may undercount inflation in key areas, including healthcare and housing, which has caused this issue.
Social Security has never been enough
While Social Security may not have changed enough, it has still changed over time. However, there's one important thing that stayed the same: Benefits, by themselves, aren't enough to fund a comfortable retirement.
Back in the 1980s and now, benefits were intended only to replace around 40% of preretirement income. The rest needs to come from retirement plans and a pension if you're lucky enough to have one.
Before you retire, make sure you have saved, invested wisely, and have a solid plan to supplement your Social Security checks. This is classic advice that was good in the 1980s when seniors got $479 monthly checks, and that matters just as much today.
