If you’ve ever wondered whether former presidents and senators qualify for Social Security, the answer is yes. When they reach retirement age, they, like every other American who earns and pays into Social Security through taxes, are eligible to receive benefits.
And after 36 years as a senator, eight years as vice president, and four years as president, Joe Biden is not only eligible, but also receiving Social Security benefits. In fact, he receives significantly more Social Security benefits than the average recipient.
How Much Does Joe Biden’s Monthly Social Security Check Cost?
Joe Biden, unlike President Donald Trump, has been releasing his annual tax returns since 1998. His 2024 return has not yet been released, but his 2023 joint federal tax return with his wife Dr. Jill Biden shows he received $42,842 in Social Security income. This works out to about $3,570 per month.
His wife received $21,412 in Social Security for the year 2023. That works out to approximately $1,784 per month. The fact that this amount is almost exactly half of Joe Biden’s suggests that she is receiving spousal benefits, which are capped at 50%, according to the Social Security Administration.
How Much Did Joe Biden Earn as a Politician?
You might be wondering why Joe Biden’s Social Security is so high. The simple answer is that as a United States senator, he earned a respectable salary by most people’s standards. As a result, he paid and earned a high Social Security rate.
Biden was elected to the United States Senate in 1972, when senators were paid $42,500 per year, according to the Senate website. That is more than $333,000 in today’s dollars.
Over the next few decades, his salary as a senator gradually increased, reaching $89,500 in 1987. He then ran for president and lost, but he returned to the Senate from 1990 to 2007, earning $165,200 in total. He later became vice president and president.
Biden began receiving Social Security benefits in 2008 ($6,534) and received the full amount in 2009 ($27,923.
What is the average Social Security check amount?
If you’re wondering where Biden stands in comparison to other Americans who receive Social Security benefits, he’s above average. According to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Monthly Statistical Snapshot, the average benefit for retired workers in June 2025 was $2,005.05.
