How Much Americans Rely on Social Security in Every State in 2026

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 li ...