The top 1% of Social Security retirees receive checks averaging $4,140 monthly

A retiree in the top 1% of American income earners receives an average monthly Social Security benefit of $4,140. This is just over twice the national average of $2,013. The Social Security Administration uses percentiles to track benefits levels. The average check for a retiree in the 90th percentile is $2,849. The statutory maximum monthly benefit is $5,430 for those who consistently earned at the maximum taxable Social Security level and delayed claiming until age 70.