Social Security Benefits Lose 20% Of Buying Power Since 2010. Research on the buying power of Social Security benefits by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) shows that the value of seniors’ benefits has declined by 20 percent since 2010. The 2024 Loss of Buying Power study found that, on average, payments for retired workers would need to rise by $4,440 per year or $370 per month, to rebuild their lost value.