2011 social security fast facts, beneficiaries, ratios

8/4/2019 2011 SOCIAL SECURITY FAST FACTS, BENEFICIARIES, RATIOS

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Abbreviations

General Information, 2011

ncome of the Aged Population

Size of IncomeReceipt of IncomeShares of Aggregate IncomeRelative Importance of Social SecurityPoverty Status Based on Family Income

Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program

Earnings in Covered EmploymentInsured Status

Insured Status, by SexNew Benefit AwardsNew Awards to WorkersBeneficiaries in Current-Payment StatusAverage Benefit AmountsBeneficiaries, by AgeDisabled and Retired Workers, by AgeBeneficiaries, by SexAverage Monthly Benefit, by SexWomen BeneficiariesWomen with Dual Entitlement

Supplemental Security Income Program

Number of RecipientsPayment Amounts, by AgeFederally Administered PaymentsBasis for Eligibility and Age of RecipientsPercentage Distribution of Recipients, by AgeRecipients, by Sex and AgeOther Income

Fast Facts & Figures About SocialSecurity, 2011
http://www.ssa.gov/http://www.ssa.gov/policy/index.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/policy/data_type.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2011/index.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2011/index.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2011/index.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2011/index.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/policy/data_type.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/policy/index.htmlhttp://www.ssa.gov/http://www.ssa.gov/policy/index.html


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OASDI, SSI, or Both

All BeneficiariesBeneficiaries Aged 65 or OlderDisabled Beneficiaries Aged 1864

Children

OASDI Beneficiaries

SSI Recipients

Social Security Financing

How Social Security Is FinancedSocial Security's Demographic ChallengeThe Long-Run Financial Outlook

Did You K now Tha t ...

SSA paid benefits to about 59.2 million people in 2010

Social Security provided at least half the income for 66 percent of the aged beneficiaries in 2009

Social Security benefits were awarded to about 5.7 million people in 2010

Women accounted for 56 percent of adult Social Security beneficiaries in 2010

The average age of disabled-worker beneficiaries was 52.8 in 2010

Eighty-five percent of SSI recipients received payments because of disability or blindness in 20

Abbrev ia t ions

AIME

average indexed monthly earnings

DI

Disability Insurance

ICA

Federal Insurance Contributions Act

RA

full retirement age

HI

Hospital Insurance


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Cost -of- l iv ing adjustm ent

Tax ra tes

Average w age index

OASDI

Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance

OASI

Old-Age and Survivors Insurance

PI Aprimary insurance amount

SECA

Self-Employment Contributions Act

SSA

Social Security Administration

SSI

Supplemental Security Income

Genera l In form at ion , 2011

Cost-of-living adjustment, 2011: 0.0.%

Tax ra tes , 2011 ( in percent )

Program Employee a Employer Self-employed

Total 5.65 7.65 13

OASI 3.59 5.30 8.

DI 0.61 0.90 1.

HI 1.45 1.45 2.

a. Recent legislation reduced the 2011 OASDI tax rates by two percentage points for

employees (from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent) and for the selfemployed (from 12.4 perc

to 10.4 percent). The Department of the Treasury will make up the reductions in tax

revenue due to lower tax rates by transferring money from the general fund of the

Treasury to the OASI and DI trust funds. SSA will credit workers with the full amount

taxable earnings.

Average w age index , 20092011

Year Dollars

Increase fromprevious year

(in percent)

2009 40,711.61 -1.5

2010 (estimated) 41,843.71 2.8

2011 (estimated) 43,517.83 4.0


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Max imum earn ings sub jec t toSoc ia l Secur i ty tax es

Taxes payab le

Work c red i ts

Exempt amounts under there t i rement earn ings tes t

Age for fu ll re t i rem ent benef i t

fo r re t i red w orkers

Maximum earn ings

sub jec t to Soc ia l

Secur i t y taxes , 2011

( in dol lars)

Program Amount

OASDI 106,800

HI No limit

Taxes payable, 2011 ( in dol lars)

Type of earner Total OASI DI HI

Average earner 2,459 1,562 265 631

Maximum earner 4,486 3,834 651 No limit

Self-employedmaximum earner 11,107 9,495 1,613 No limit

NOTE: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.

Work credits (quarters of coverage), 2011:

$1,120 in earnings equals 1 credit$4,480 in earnings qualifies for the maximum of4 credits

Exempt amounts under the re t i rement earn ings tes t , 2011

( in dol lars)

Period Annually MontAge of retired person in 2011

Under full retirement age ($1 for $2 withholdingrate) 14,160 1,1

Full retirement age ($1 for $3 withholding rate) a 37,680 3,1

Above full retirement age No limit No li

a. The test applies only to earnings made in months prior to the month of attainment

full retirement age.

Age fo r fu l l re t i rement benef i t fo r

re t i red workers

Year of birth Full retirement age

1937 and earlier 65

1938 65 and 2 months





19431954 66


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Benef it fo rmula bend po in ts

Disabi l i ty thresholds

Maximum Soc ia l Secur i t ybenef i t

Trus t fund operat ions






1960 and later 67

Benefit formula bend points (for workers with first eligibility in2011)

Primary insurance amount (PIA) equals

90% of the first $749 of AIME, plus32% of AIME over $749 through $4,517, plus15% of AIME over $4,517

Disability thresholds

Substantial gainful activity

$1,000 per month for nonblind persons$1,640 per month for blind persons

Trial work period

$720 per month

$2,366 per month for workers retiring at full retirement age in2011Higher benefits are possible for those who work or delaybenefit receipt after reaching full retirement age

Trust fund operat ions, 20102011

( in b i l l ions of dol lars)

Calendar year and trustfund Income Outgo

Fundat end

of year

2010 (actual)

Total 781.1 712.5 2,609.0

OASI 677.1 584.9 2,429.0

DI 104.0 127.7 179.9

2011 (estimated)

Total 807.7 738.4 2,678.2

OASI 700.7 605.6 2,524.1

DI 107.0 132.8 154.1



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OASDI administ rat iveexpenses

Benef it payment s

Workload

Supplementa l Secur i ty Incom e

Poverty thresholds

OASDI administrative expenses: Costs were 0.8% ofcontributions in calendar year 2010

Benefi t payments as a percentage o f g ross

domest ic product , 20092010

Calendar year Total OASI DI

2009 4.74 3.91 0.83

2010 4.79 3.94 0.85

NOTES: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.

Figures are subject to change.

Workload, f iscal year

2010

( in mi l l ions)

Type of filing Number

OASI claims 4.7

DI claims 3.4

SSIapplications 3.1

Supplemental Security Income, January 2011

Federal benefit rate

$674 individual$1,011 couple

Resource limits

$2,000 individual$3,000 couple

Pover ty t hresholds, 2010 (in dol lars)

Family unit Amount

Aged individual 10,458

Family of two, aged head 13,195Family of four 22,314

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau as of January 2011 (preliminary estimates).

ncome o f t he Aged Popula t ion

Size of Inc ome, 1962 and 2009


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Median annual income for married couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older has increasedmarkedly since 1962 (the earliest year for which data are available). Even after adjusting for inflation, medncome has risen 111% for married couples and 122% for nonmarried persons. A married couple is aged r older if the husband is aged 65 or older or if the husband is aged 54 or younger and the wife is 65 or ol

Median income o f aged un i ts , by mar i ta l s ta tus ( in 2009 do l la rs)

SOURCES: Data for 1962 are from Social Security Administration, The Aged Population of the United States: The 1963 Social Security Survey

of the Aged(1967). Data for 2009 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2010 Annual Social and Economic

Supplement to the Current Population Survey.

NOTE: An aged unit is a married couple living together or a nonmarried person, which also includes persons who are separated or married

but not living together.

Receip t o f Income, 1962 and 2009

Social Security benefitsthe most common source of income for married couples and nonmarried personged 65 or older in 1962are now almost universal. The proportion of the aged population with asset

ncomethe next most common sourceis similar to that in 1962. Over the 47-year period, receipt ofrivate pensions has more than tripled, and receipt of government pensions has increased by approximat0%. The proportion of couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older who had earnings was smaller 009 than in 1962.

Percentage o f aged un i ts rece iv ing income, by source
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of the Aged(1967). Data for 2009 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2010 Annual Social and Economic

Supplement to the Current Population Survey.



Shares o f Aggregate Incom e, 1962 and 2009

n 1962, Social Security, private and government employee pensions, income from assets, and earningsmade up only 84% of the aggregate total income of couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older,ompared with 96% in 2009. The shares from Social Security, private pensions, and government employensions have increased since 1962. The share from earnings in 2009 is about the same as it was in 196

while the share from asset income is lower.

Aggregate incom e, by source


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of the Aged(1967). Data for 2009 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2010 Annual Social and EconomicSupplement to the Current Population Survey.

NOTES: The unit of analysis is the aged unit, defined as a married couple living together or a nonmarried person, which also includes

persons who are separated or married but not living together.

Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.

Relat ive Impor tanc e o f Soc ia l Secur i ty , 2009

n 2009, 88% of married couples and 86% of nonmarried persons aged 65 or older received Social Securenefits. Social Security was the major source of income (providing at least 50% of total income) for 54%

ged beneficiary couples and 73% of aged nonmarried beneficiaries. It was 90% or more of income for 22f aged beneficiary couples and 43% of aged nonmarried beneficiaries. Total income excludes withdrawaom savings and nonannuitized IRAs or 401(k) plans; it also excludes in-kind support, such as food stamnd housing and energy assistance.

Percentage o f aged un i ts rece iv ing Soc ia l Secur i t y benef it s , by re la t i ve impor tance o f benef i t s to

to ta l i ncom e


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current

Population Survey.



Pover ty Sta tus Based on Fami ly Incom e, 2009

he aged poor are those with income below the poverty line. The near poor have income greater than orqual to the poverty line and less than 125% of the poverty line. Nonmarried women and minorities have ighest poverty rates, ranging from 15.5% to 19.5%. Married persons have the lowest poverty rates, with.3% poor and 2.7% near poor. Overall, 8.9% are poor and 5.4% are near poor.

Pover ty s t a tus , by mar i ta l s ta tus , sex o f nonmar r ied persons, race , and H ispan ic o r ig in


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current

Population Survey.

a. Current Population Survey respondents may identify themselves in more than one racial group. The "white alone" and "black alone"

categories reflect respondents who reported only one race.

OASDI Progr am

Earnings in Covered Employm ent, 19372010

People contribute to Social Security through payroll taxes or self-employment taxes, as required by theederal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and the Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA). The

maximum taxable amount is updated annually on the basis of increases in the average wage. Of the57 million workers with earnings in Social Securitycovered employment in 2010, 6% had earnings thatqualed or exceeded the maximum amount subject to taxes, compared with 3% when the program begannd a peak of 36% in 1965. About 84% of earnings in covered employment were taxable in 2010, compa

with 92% in 1937.

Taxab le earn ings as a percentage o f earn ings in covered em ployment and percentage o f w orkers

w i th m ax imum taxab le earn ings , se lec ted years


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary.

nsured Status, 19702010

he percentage of persons aged 20 or older who are insured for benefits has remained the same for the peveral years. To be fully insured, a worker must have at least one work credit (quarter of coverage) for eaear elapsed after age 21 (but no earlier than 1950) and before the year in which he or she attains age 62ecomes disabled, or dies. The maximum number of work credits needed to be fully insured is 40. An

ndividual is said to be permanently insured if he or she has earned 40 work credits. To be insured forisability, the worker must be fully insured and have at least 20 work credits during the last 40 calendaruarters. (Requirements for disability-insured status are somewhat different for persons younger thange 31.) Disability benefits are available up to full retirement age (FRA).

nsured w orkers as a percentage o f the cor respond ing Soc ia l Secur i t y a rea popu la t ion , se lec t ed years

Year

Population aged 20 or older Population aged 2064a

Millions

Percentagepermanently

insured

Percentagefully

insured Millions

Perceninsured

disa

970 135.2 50 77 113.2

975 147.5 50 80 122.9

980 162.0 53 83 133.3


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985 175.1 57 84 144.1

990 186.0 63 86 151.9

995 194.7 66 87 160.5

000 204.7 69 88 169.2

005 219.7 69 88 182.2

010 231.0 70 88 189.8


NOTES: The population in the Social Security area includes residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia adjusted for net census undercount;ivilian residents of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands; federal civilian employees and persons i

rmed forces abroad and their dependents; crew members of merchant vessels; and all other U.S. citizens abroad.

igures are subject to revision.

. Insured for disability excludes those over full retirement age.

nsured Sta t us , by Sex, 1970 and 2010

Although men are more likely than women to be insured, the gender gap is shrinking. The proportion of m

who are insured has remained essentially stable, with 91% fully insured and 81% insured for disability. a B

ontrast, the proportion of women who are insured has increased dramaticallyfrom 63% to 85% fullynsured and from 41% to 74% insured for disability.

Percentage o f popu la t ion in t he Soc ia l Secur i t y a rea fu l ly insured and insured fo r d isab i l i t y

benef it s , by sex


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NOTES: The population in the Social Security area includes residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia adjusted for net census

undercount; civilian residents of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands; federal civilianemployees and persons in the armed forces abroad and their dependents; crew members of merchant vessels; and all other U.S. citizens

abroad.

Figures are subject to revision.

a. Insured for disability excludes those over full retirement age.

New Bene f i t Aw ards , 2010

Benefits were awarded to about 5.7 million persons; of those, 46% were retired workers and 18% wereisabled workers. The remaining 36% were survivors or the spouses and children of retired or disabled

workers. These awards represent not only new entrants to the benefit rolls but also persons already on tholls who become entitled to a different benefit, particularly conversions of disabled-worker benefits toetired-worker benefits at full retirement age.

ew aw ards , by type o f benefi c ia ry

BeneficiaryNumber

(thousands) Percent

Total 5,697 100

Retired workers and dependents 3,144 55


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Workers 2,634 46

Spouses and children 510 9

Disabled workers andependents 1,650 29

Workers 1,027 18

Spouses and children 623 11

Survivors of deceased workers 902 16

New aw ards , 2010

SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent

data.


New Aw ards t o Workers , 19702010

Awards to retired workers have increased considerably over the past four decades, but proportionately mess than awards to disabled workers. The annualized rate of increase over the period from 1970 to 2010.7% for retired workers and 2.7% for disabled workers. The annual number of awards to retired workersose from 1.3 million in 1970 to 2.6 million in 2010, while for disabled workers it increased from 350,000 in970 to 1.0 million in 2010.

New aw ards to re t i red and d isab led w orkers


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.

Benef ic iar ies in Current -Payment Sta t us , December 2010

More than 54 million beneficiaries were in current-payment status, that is, they were being paid a benefit.Sixty-four percent of those beneficiaries were retired workers and 15% were disabled workers. Theemaining 21% were survivors or the spouses and children of retired or disabled workers.

enef ic ia r ies in c ur ren t -payment s ta tus

BeneficiaryNumber

(thousands) Percent

Total 54,032 100

Retired workers and dependents 37,489 69

Workers 34,593 64

Spouses and children 2,896 5

Disabled workers andependents 10,184 19

Workers 8,203 15

Spouses and children 1,980 4


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Survivors of deceased workers 6,360 12

Benef ic iar ies, by type



Average Benef i t Amounts , 2010

Benefits payable to workers who retire at the full retirement age and to disabled workers are equal to 100f the PIA (subject to any applicable deductions). At the full retirement age, widow(er)s' benefits are alsoayable at 100% of the insured worker's PIA. Nondisabled widow(er)s can receive reduced benefits atge 60. Disabled widow(er)s can receive reduced benefits at age 50. Spouses, children, and parents recesmaller proportion of the worker's PIA than do widow(er)s.

verage month ly benef it fo r new aw ards and fo r benef i t s inur ren t -payment s ta tus ( in do l la rs )

Beneficiary New awards

Benefits incurrent-payment

status,December

Retired workers 1,193 1,176

Spouses 434 580

Children 545 577

Disabled workers 1,129 1,068

Spouses 290 287

Children 291 318

Survivors of deceased workers

Nondisabled widow(er)s 914 1,134

Disabled widow(er)s 667 681

Widowed mothers and fathers 821 849

Surviving children 752 752

Parents 960 998


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 10 percent sample for 1988 and 19902005 and 100 percent data for all

other years.

Benef ic iar ies, by Sex, Decem ber 2010

Of all adults receiving monthly Social Security benefits, 44% were men and 56% were women. Eightyercent of the men and 61% of the women received retired-worker benefits. About one-sixth of the womeeceived survivor benefits.

Adu l t benef i c ia r ies, by type o f benef i c ia ry and sex


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Average Month ly Benef it , by Sex, December 2010

Among retired and disabled workers who collected benefits based on their own work records, men receivhigher average monthly benefit than did women. For those with benefits based on another person's wor

ecord (spouses and survivors), women had higher average benefits.

verage m onth ly benef it ( in do l la rs )

Beneficiary Men Women

Workers

Retired 1,323 1,023

Disabled 1,191 931

Spouses of

Retired workers 366 585

Disabled workers 242 288

Survivors of deceased workers

Nondisabled widow(er)s 978 1,136

Disabled widow(er)s 499 691

Mothers and fathers 730 859SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.

Women Benef ic iar ies, 19402010

he proportion of women among retired-worker beneficiaries has quadrupled since 1940. The percentagelimbed from 12% in 1940 to 47% in 1980, 48% in 1990, and 49% in 2010. The proportion of women amoisabled-worker beneficiaries has more than doubled since 1957, when DI benefits first became payable.he percentage rose steadily from 19% in 1957 to 35% in 1990 and 47% in 2010.


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Women benef ic ia r ies as a percentage o f re t i red w orkers and d isab led workers , se lec ted years


Women w i th Dual Ent i t lement , 19602010

he proportion of women aged 62 or older who are receiving benefits as dependents (that is, on the basisheir husbands' earnings record only) has been decliningfrom 57% in 1960 to 26% in 2010. At the samme, the proportion of women with dual entitlement (that is, paid on the basis of both their own earningsecords and those of their husbands) has been increasingfrom 5% in 1960 to 28% in 2010.

Women aged 62 or o lder , by bas is o f en t i t l ement , se lec ted years


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 10 percent sample for 19932005 and 100 percent data for all other

years.

SSI Program

Number of Recip ient s, 19742010

he Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides income support to needy persons aged 65 orlder, blind or disabled adults, and blind or disabled children. Eligibility requirements and federal paymenttandards are nationally uniform. SSI replaced the former federal/state adult assistance programs in the0 states and the District of Columbia.

Payments under SSI began in January 1974, with 3.2 million persons receiving federally administered

ayments. By December 1974, this number had risen to nearly 4 million and remained at about that levelntil the mid-1980s, then rose steadily, reaching nearly 6 million in 1993 and 7 million by the end of 2004f December 2010, the number of recipients was about 7.9 million. Of this total, 4.6 million were betweenges of 18 and 64, 2.0 million were aged 65 or older, and 1.2 million were under age 18.

Persons receiv ing federal ly adminis t ered SSI payments, December


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format), 100 percent data.

Payment Amounts , by Age, December 2010

he average monthly federally administered SSI payment was $501. Payments varied by age group, rangom an average of $597 for recipients aged under 18 to $405 for those aged 65 or older. The maximum

ederal benefit rate in December 2010 was $674 for an individual and $1,011 for a couple, plus anypplicable state supplementation.

Average month ly federal l y admin is te red SSI payment


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NOTE: Amounts exclude retroactive payments.

ederal ly Administ ered Payment s, December 2010

A total of 7.9 million persons received federally administered SSI payments. The majority received federaSSI only. States have the option of supplementing the federal benefit rate and are required to do so if thatate is less than the income the recipient would have had under the former state program.

Type of SSI payment


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SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format),100 percent data.

Basis for El ig ib i l i t y and Age of Recip i ents, December 2010

ifteen percent of SSI recipients received benefits on the basis of age, the rest on the basis of disability.wenty-six percent of the recipients were aged 65 or older. In the SSI program, a disabled recipient is stilassified as "disabled" after reaching age 65. In the OASDI program, DI beneficiaries are converted to theetirement program when they attain full retirement age.

SSI rec ip ient s , by basis for e l ig ib i l i ty and age

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Percent age Distr ibut ion of Recip ient s, by Age, 19742010

he proportion of SSI recipients aged 65 or older has declined from 61% in January 1974 to 26% inDecember 2010. The overall long-term growth of the SSI program has occurred because of an increase ihe number of disabled recipients, most of whom are under age 65.

Percentage d is t r ibut ion of SSI rec ip ient s , by age, Decem ber


Recip ients , by Sex and Age, December 2010

Overall, 55% of the approximately 7.9 million SSI recipients were women, but that percentage varied greay age group. Women accounted for 68% of the 2.0 million recipients aged 65 or older, 55% of the

.6 million recipients aged 1864, and 34% of the 1.2 million recipients under age 18.

SSI rec ip ient s , by sex and age


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NOTE: Components do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.

Other Inc ome, December 2010

Over fifty-six percent of SSI recipients aged 65 or older received OASDI benefits, as did 31.5% of thoseged 1864 and 7.4% of those under age 18. Other types of unearned income, such as income from asse

were reported most frequently among those under age 18 (20.0%) and those aged 65 or older (12.2%).Earned income was most prevalent (5.0%) among those aged 1864.

Other income o f SSI rec ip ien ts , by source and age


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OASDI, SSI, or Bot h

Al l Benef ic iar ies, December 2010

About 59.2 million people received a payment from Social Security. Most (51.3 million) received OASDIenefits only, about 5.2 million received SSI only, and 2.7 million received payments from both programs.

enef ic iar ies receiv ing OASDI, SSI , or

o th

BenefitNumber

(thousands)

Total (unduplicated) 59,246

OASDI 54,032

OASDI only 51,334

SSI 7,912

SSI only 5,214


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Both OASDI and SSI 2,698

Dis t r ibu t ion o f a l l benef ic ia r ies

SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record,

100 percent data; Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic

Record Extract format), 100 percent data.

NOTES: SSI includes federal SSI payments and federally administered

state supplementation.

Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.

Benef ic iar ies Aged 65 or Older, December 2010

Benefits were paid to 38.1 million people aged 65 or older. Over 1.1 million received both OASDI and SS

enef ic ia r ies aged 65 or o lder rece iv ing

ASDI, SSI, or bot h

BeneficiaryNumber

(thousands)


OASDI

Total 37,214

Retired workers 31,161

Disabled workers 339

Spouses 2,108

Widow(er)s 3,606 a

Disabled adult children 77

OASDI only 36,067

SSI


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Total 2,041 b

Receiving SSI only 894

Receiving both OASDI andSSI 1,147

Dis t r ibu t ion o f benef ic ia r ies aged 65 or o lder ,

by program




NOTES: SSI includes federal SSI payments and federally administered

state supplementation.

a. Includes persons who received dependent parent's benefits or

mother's and father's benefits.

b. Includes 857,600 SSI beneficiaries aged 65 or older who are

disabled or blind.

Disabled Benef ic iar ies Aged 1864 , Decem ber 2010

Payments were made to 12.2 million people aged 1864 on the basis of their own disability. Sixty-twoercent received disability payments from the OASDI program only, 27% received payments from the SSrogram only, and 11% received payments from both programs.

i sabled benef ic iar ies aged 1864 rec eiv ing

ASDI, SSI, or bot h

BeneficiaryNumber

(thousands)


OASDI disability

Total 8,964

Workers aged 64 or younger 7,865

Disabled adult children 872

Widow(er)s 227

OASDI disability only 7,594

SSI disability


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Total 4,631

Receiving SSI disability only 3,262

Receiving both OASDI and SSI disability 1,369

Dist r ibut ion of d isabled benef ic iar ies aged 1864




NOTE: SSI includes federal SSI payments and federally administeredstate supplementation.

Chi ldren

OASDI Benef ic iar ies, Decem ber 2010

More than 3.2 million children under age 18 and students aged 1819 received OASDI benefits. Children eceased workers had the highest average payments, in part because they are eligible to receive monthl

enefits based on 75% of the worker's PIA, compared with 50% for children of retired or disabled workersOverall, the average monthly benefit amount for children was $545.

Number o f and average m onth ly benef i t fo r c h i ld ren o f w orker benef i c ia ries

Number of children of


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Average monthly benefit for children of


SSI Rec ipient s, 19742010

n 1974, when the program began, 70,900 blind and disabled children were receiving SSI. That numberncreased to 995,000 in 1996, declined to 847,000 in 2000, and is now 1,239,300. The relatively highverage payment to children (compared with payments made to blind and disabled adults) is due in part tmited amount of other countable income. The spike in average monthly benefits in 1992 is due toetroactive payments resulting from the Sullivan v. Zebley decision. As of December 2010, blind and disahildren were receiving SSI payments averaging $597.

Number of children under age 18 receiving SSI

Average monthly SSI payment to children under age 18a
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a. As of 1998, these figures exclude retroactive payments.

Soc ia l Secur i t y F inanc ing

How Soc ia l Secur i ty Is Financed

Social Security is largely a pay-as-you-go program. Most of the payroll taxes collected from today's workere used to pay benefits to today's recipients. In 2010, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disabilit

nsurance Trust Funds collected $781.1 billion in revenues. Of that amount, 81.9% was derived from payrax contributions and reimbursements from the General Fund of the Treasury and 3.1% was from incomeaxes on Social Security benefits. Interest earned on the government bonds held by the trust funds providhe remaining 15.0% of income. Assets increased in 2010 because income exceeded expenditures forenefit payments and administrative expenses.

Sources and uses o f Soc ia l Secur i t y revenues in 2010


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SOURCE: 2010 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust

Funds, Table II.B1.

Social Secur i t y 's Demographic Chal lenge

he number of retired workers is projected to continue growing rapidly as the members of the postWorldWar II baby boom continue to reach early retirement age, and will double in less than 30 years. People ar

lso living longer, and the birth rate is low. As a result, the ratio of workers paying Social Security taxes toeople collecting benefits is projected to fall from 2.9 to 1 in 2010 to 2.1 to 1 in 2029. In 2010, current tax

were not enough to pay scheduled benefits and administrative expenses. The 2011 Trustees Report projehat this shortfall will continue in each year thereafter, and also projects that redemption of trust fund asse

will be sufficient to allow for full payment of scheduled benefits until 2036.

Rat io o f c overed w orkers to Soc ia l Secur i t y benef ic ia r ies


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SOURCE: 2010 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance

Trust Funds, Table IV.B2.

he Long-Run Financia l Out look

Social Security is not sustainable over the long term at current benefit and tax rates. Beginning in 2010, throgram is projected to pay more in benefits and expenses than it collects in taxes each year. By 2036 it istimated that the trust funds will be exhausted. At that point, payroll taxes and other income will flow intohe fund but will be sufficient to pay only 77% of program costs. As reported in the 2011 Trustees Report,rojected shortfall over the next 75 years is 2.22% of taxable payroll.

Soc ia l Secur i t y inc ome m inus cos ts as a percentage o f tax ab le payro l l


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SOURCE: 2010 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust

Funds, Table IV.B1.

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ocial Security Online Actuarial Publicationsww.soc ia lsecur i t y .gov

tatistical Tables Socia l Secur i t y Benef ic ia ry Sta t is t i c s

Number o f

eneficiaries by broad groups

etired workers & dependents

urvivors

isabled workers &

ependents

The table below provides unedited data from our Master Beneficiary Record. Sthe links at left for more detailed data.

The data can also be see in a graph.

Number o f benef ic iar ies rece iv ing benef i ts on December 31, 1970-2010

Year Tot al

Old-Age and Survivors Insuranc eDisabi l i tyInsurance

Tota lRet i red w orkersand dependent s Survivors

Disabw orkers adepende

970 25,700,924 23,035,295 16,566,674 6,468,621 2,665,

971 26,817,466 23,887,566 17,188,035 6,699,531 2,929

972 28,075,659 24,804,173 17,870,175 6,933,998 3,271

973 29,513,677 25,952,971 18,793,039 7,159,932 3,560

974 30,575,739 26,663,788 19,409,560 7,254,228 3,911

975 31,861,668 27,509,170 20,140,731 7,368,439 4,352

976 32,835,497 28,211,670 20,715,021 7,496,649 4,623

977 33,923,098 29,068,892 21,476,517 7,592,375 4,854

978 34,453,027 29,584,451 22,006,468 7,577,983 4,868979 35,012,958 30,235,740 22,617,898 7,617,842 4,777

980 35,526,086 30,843,914 23,243,078 7,600,836 4,682

981 35,930,048 31,473,774 23,859,047 7,614,727 4,456

982 35,777,795 31,804,330 24,362,481 7,441,849 3,973

983 36,033,976 32,221,046 24,971,472 7,249,574 3,812

984 36,438,574 32,616,770 25,435,753 7,181,017 3,821

985 37,026,698 33,119,529 25,958,585 7,160,944 3,907

986 37,683,434 33,690,155 26,524,806 7,165,349 3,993

987 38,171,185 34,126,461 26,970,080 7,156,381 4,044988 38,612,903 34,538,603 27,375,814 7,162,789 4,074

989 39,141,080 35,012,253 27,842,330 7,169,923 4,128

990 39,824,692 35,558,711 28,361,385 7,197,326 4,265

991 40,586,874 36,073,834 28,818,483 7,255,351 4,513

992 41,503,506 36,613,810 29,301,178 7,312,632 4,889

993 42,243,262 36,989,696 29,635,117 7,354,579 5,253

994 42,881,850 37,298,331 29,914,265 7,384,066 5,583

995 43,386,232 37,528,576 30,140,418 7,388,158 5,857

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996 43,736,183 37,664,149 30,310,865 7,353,284 6,072,

997 43,970,692 37,817,653 30,637,863 7,179,790 6,153,

998 44,245,506 37,910,936 30,813,491 7,097,445 6,334,

999 44,595,481 38,071,751 31,027,701 7,044,050 6,523,

000 45,414,705 38,741,343 31,756,099 6,985,244 6,673

001 45,877,465 38,964,222 32,045,800 6,918,422 6,913

002 46,444,296 39,223,028 32,347,974 6,875,054 7,221

003 47,038,475 39,443,023 32,633,335 6,809,688 7,595004 47,687,713 39,738,441 33,004,844 6,733,597 7,949

005 48,434,436 40,120,122 33,467,225 6,652,897 8,314

006 49,122,826 40,503,441 33,937,576 6,565,865 8,619

007 49,864,978 40,944,607 34,450,034 6,494,573 8,920

008 50,898,396 41,624,557 35,168,515 6,456,042 9,273

009 52,522,819 42,826,421 36,416,781 6,409,640 9,696

010 54,032,097 43,846,211 37,487,862 6,358,349 10,185

umbers above exclude transitionally uninsured beneficiaries. Benefits to such beneficiares are initially paid from the Old-Age a

urvivors Insurance Trust Fund and are subsequently reimbursed from the general fund of the Treasury.

onthly benefit data are available on those beneficiaries who are currently paid, grouped by benefit type as in the table

bove, or family type. The term "family" has a special meaning based on the concept of insured status. Data are also

vailable on benefits awarded.

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story Home This is an archival or historical document and may not reflect current policies oprocedures

Frequent ly Ask ed Quest ions

Ratio of Covered Workers to Beneficiaries

Ratio of

Social Security Covered Workers to Beneficiaries

Calendar Years 1940-2010

Year Covered

Workers(in thousands)

Benef ic iar ies

(in thousands)

Rat io

1940 35,390 222 159.4

1945 46,390 1,106 41.9

1950 48,280 2,930 16.5

1955 65,200 7,563 8.6

1960 72,530 14,262 5.1

1965 80,680 20,157 4.0

1970 93,090 25,186 3.7

1975 100,200 31,123 3.2

1980 113,656 35,118 3.2

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1985 120,565 36,650 3.3

1986 123,400 37,322 3.3

1987 126,287 37,951 3.3

1988 130,142 38,420 3.4

1989 132,478 38,859 3.4

1990 133,672 39,470 3.4

1991 132,969 40,172 3.3

1992 133,890 41,029 3.3

1993 136,117 41,840 3.3

1994 138,197 42,516 3.3

1995 141,446 43,107 3.3

1996 143,909 43,498 3.3

1997 146,736 43,792 3.3

1998 149,692 44,075 3.4

1999 152,453 44,366 3.4

2000 155,295 45,166 3.4

2001 155,546 45,668 3.4

2002 154,894 46,176 3.3

2003 154,954 46,752 3.3

2004 156,900 47,367 3.3

2005 159,081 48,133 3.3

2006 161,852 48,863 3.3

2007 163,057 49,603 3.3

2008 162,485 50,420 3.2

2009 156,021 51,860 3


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2010 156,725 53,398 2.9

Notes:

Data for 1945-1989 from Table II.F19 of the 2000 Trustees Report. Data for 1990-

1994 from 2004 Trustees Report, Table IV.B2. Data for 1995-2009 from 2010 Trustees

Report, Table IV.B2. Data for 2010 from 2011 Trustees Report.

The following footnotes apply to these data:

1. The numbers of beneficiaries do not include certain uninsured persons, most of

whom both attained age 72 before 1968 and have fewer than 3 quarters of coverage,

in which cases the costs are reimbursed by the general fund of the Treasury. The

number of such uninsured persons was 179 as of June 30, 1999. Totals do not

necessarily equal the sums of rounded components.

2. Historical covered worker data are subject to revision.

3. Covered Workers is defined as those who are paid at some time during the year for

employment on which Social Security taxes are due.

4. Beneficiaries as defined as those with monthly benefits in current-payment status as

of June 30.

Monthly Social Security benefits were first paid starting in January 1940. Data for 1940

computed from Tables 4.B.1 and 5.A.4 from the 1998 Annual Statistical Supplement to

the Social Security Bulletin. The following footnotes apply to the 1940 data only:

1. Covered workers is defined as in the rest of the table.

2. Beneficiaries are defined as those with monthly benefits in current-payment status

as of December 1940. This is a slightly different basis than that used in the rest of this

table. Therefore the ratio for 1940 is only approximately comparable to the data for the

subsequent years.

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Security, 20

Rat io o f covered w orke rs t o Soc ia l Secur i t y bene f ic ia r ies

he line chart shows the ratio of covered workers to beneficiaries from 1955 to 2085. In 1955, there were.6 workers supporting each retiree. By 1975, that ratio had declined to 3.2 workers per beneficiary andemained between 3.1 and 3.4 over the next 30 years. Current projections have the ratio starting to declingain in 2008, decreasing at an accelerating rate until it reaches 2.1 workers per beneficiary in 2031.hereafter, it continues to decline by one-tenth of a percentage point approximately every 15 years, arrivi

n 2085 at only 1.9 workers per beneficiary.

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