Living off Social Security? New report says you will run out of cash in weeks — every state

Time of India

4 days ago

If you're planning to live only on
Social Security
checks after you retire — you may want to think again. A new report by GOBankingRates shows that in every U.S. state, people who depend only on Social Security run out of money before the month ends.
Why social security alone isn't enough
The Social Security Administration has always said these benefits were never meant to be your only source of money after retirement. They are supposed to support you — not fully cover your lifestyle.
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Now, the latest July 2025 study from GOBankingRates proves that if you're single and relying only on these monthly checks, you'll be in trouble — no matter where you live in the U.S.
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What did the study do?
The team at GOBankingRates:
Collected the
average Social Security income
for single people
Looked at each state's average mortgage costs and basic living expenses
Calculated how many days your Social Security check could last per month in each state
They used data from:
U.S. Census (2023 5-year Survey)
Missouri Economic and Research Information Center
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)
Zillow Home Index (May 2025)
Federal Reserve Economic Data
All data was collected as of July 7, 2025.
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States where your money lasts the longest
Even in the most affordable states, your Social Security check won't last a full month. But some states are still better than others, as stated in the report by GoBankingRates.
Here are the top 10 states where Social Security lasts the longest:
West Virginia – 21.5 days
Monthly mortgage: $989
Total monthly living cost: $2,830
Mississippi – 20.9 days
Mortgage: $1,107
Total: $2,910
Arkansas – 20.4 days
Mortgage: $1,268
Total: $2,986
Louisiana – 20.3 days
Mortgage: $1,226
Total: $2,999
Oklahoma – 19.9 days
Mortgage: $1,264
Total: $3,069
Alabama – 19.5 days
Mortgage: $1,351
Total: $3,122
Kentucky – 19.2 days
Mortgage: $1,294
Total: $3,175
Iowa – 19.1 days
Mortgage: $1,358
Total: $3,185
Kansas – 19.1 days
Mortgage: $1,393
Total: $3,192
Ohio – 18.7 days
Mortgage: $1,416
Total: $3,262
Even in West Virginia — the most affordable — you'll still fall short by 9-10 days each month if you rely only on Social Security.
States where money runs out fastest
On the flip side, here are the top 10 most expensive states — where your Social Security check runs out the fastest, as mentioned in the report by GoBankingRates.
Hawaii – Only 7.3 days!
Mortgage: $5,675
Total cost: $8,357
California – 8.7 days
Mortgage: $4,698
Total: $7,003
Massachusetts – 9.7 days
Mortgage: $3,950
Total: $6,277
Washington – 10.6 days
Mortgage: $3,626
Total: $5,750
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New Jersey – 11.3 days
Mortgage: $3,382
Total: $5,387
Colorado – 11.8 days
Mortgage: $3,296
Total: $5,179
New Hampshire – 12.0 days
Mortgage: $3,042
Total: $5,057
Oregon – 12.1 days
Mortgage: $2,987
Total: $5,020
Rhode Island – 12.2 days
Mortgage: $2,918
Total: $5,006
Utah – 12.2 days
Mortgage: $3,155
Total: $4,996
Clearly, high living costs and expensive housing make it nearly impossible to live on just Social Security in these places.
Middle-of-the-Pack states
Some states fall in the middle — not the cheapest, but not the worst either. Here's how they compare:
Georgia – 15.9 days | $3,829/month
Texas – 16.8 days | $3,628/month
North Carolina – 15.8 days | $3,864/month
Florida – 14.2 days | $4,281/month
Wisconsin – 15.9 days | $3,835/month
What's the message?
No matter where you live — you will fall short. The study proves that Social Security doesn't stretch far enough. Even in cheaper states, you're missing 7 to 10 days of income each month. In expensive states, you might fall short by 15 to 20 days, as per the GoBankingRates reports.
This means you must have extra money saved, or other sources of income like:
Retirement savings (401k, IRA)
Pension
Investments
Part-time work
Help from family
Experts Have Warned This Before
This isn't a surprise. The Social Security Administration has said for years that the program is not enough to fully support a retired person — especially with today's inflation and housing costs.
GOBankingRates' study just puts real numbers and days to the warning.
If you're hoping to rely only on your Social Security checks — don't count on it. You'll run out of money in every U.S. state in less than a month. You must plan ahead, save more, and understand the true
cost of living in retirement
, as per the report by GoBankingRates.
This report is a wake-up call for every future retiree — especially if you're single and living on a tight budget.
FAQs
Q1. How long can I live on Social Security in the U.S.?
In every U.S. state, Social Security lasts less than a month for single retirees, according to a 2025 GOBankingRates report.
Q2. Which state is the cheapest to live in on Social Security?
West Virginia is the cheapest, where Social Security lasts about 21.5 days each month for one person.