Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2009

Did You Know That...

• SSA paid benefits to about 55.8 million people in 2008
• Social Security provided at least half the income for 64 percent of the aged in 2007
• Social Security benefits were awarded to about 5.1 million people in 2008
• Women accounted for 56 percent of adult Social Security beneficiaries in 2008
• The average age of disabled-worker beneficiaries was 52.6 in 2008
• Eighty-four percent of SSI recipients received payments because of disability or blindness in 2008

Abbreviations

AIME

average indexed monthly earnings

DI

Disability Insurance

FICA

Federal Insurance Contributions Act

FRA

full retirement age

HI

Hospital Insurance

OASDI

Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance

OASI

Old-Age and Survivors Insurance

PIA

primary insurance amount

SECA

Self-Employment Contributions Act

SSA

Social Security Administration

SSI

Supplemental Security Income

General Information, 2009

Income of the Aged Population

Size of Income, 1962 and 2007

Median annual income for married couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older has increased markedly since 1962 (the earliest year for which data are available). Even after adjusting for inflation, median income has risen 106% for married couples and 104% for nonmarried persons. A married couple is aged 65 or older if the husband is aged 65 or older or if the husband is aged 54 or younger and the wife is 65 or older.

Median income of aged units, by marital status (in 2007 dollars)

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 2007 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 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.

Receipt of Income, 1962 and 2007

Social Security benefits—the most common source of income for married couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older in 1962—are now almost universal. The proportion of the aged population with asset income—the next most common source—is similar to that in 1962. Over the 45-year period, receipt of private pensions has more than tripled, and receipt of government pensions has increased by approximately 50%. The proportion of couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older who had earnings was smaller in 2007 than in 1962.

Percentage of aged units receiving income, by source

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Table equivalent for chart. Percentage of aged units receiving income, by source

Source of income	1962	2007
Social Security	69	87
Asset income	54	52
Private pensions	9	28
Government employee pensions	9	13
Earnings	36	25

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 2007 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 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.

Shares of Aggregate Income, 1962 and 2007

In 1962, Social Security, private and government employee pensions, income from assets, and earnings made up only 84% of the aggregate total income of couples and nonmarried persons aged 65 or older, compared with 97% in 2007. The shares from Social Security, private pensions, and government employee pensions have increased since 1962. The shares from earnings and asset income are about the same in 2007 as they were in 1962.

Aggregate income, by source, 1962 and 2007

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Table equivalent for chart. Percentage distribution of aggregate income, by source, 1962 and 2007

Income source	1962	2007
Social Security	30	36
Earnings	28	29
Asset income	15	16
Private pensions	3	9
Government employee pensions	6	8
Other	16	3

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 2007 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement 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.

Relative Importance of Social Security, 2007

In 2007, 88% of married couples and 86% of nonmarried persons aged 65 or older received Social Security benefits. Social Security was the major source of income (providing at least 50% of total income) for 53% of aged beneficiary couples and 73% of aged nonmarried beneficiaries. It was 90% or more of income for 21% of aged beneficiary couples and 44% of aged nonmarried beneficiaries. Total income excludes withdrawals from savings and nonannuitized IRAs or 401(k) plans; it also excludes in-kind support, such as food stamps and housing and energy assistance.

Percentage of aged units receiving Social Security benefits, by relative importance of benefits to total income

SOURCE: Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 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.

Poverty Status Based on Family Income, 2007

The aged poor are those with income below the poverty line. The near poor have income greater than or equal to the poverty line and less than 125% of the poverty line. Nonmarried women and minorities have the highest poverty rates, ranging from 17.6% to 23.2%. Married persons have the lowest poverty rates, with 4.2% poor and 3.6% near poor. Overall, 9.7% are poor and 6.4% are near poor.

Poverty status, by marital status, sex of nonmarried persons, race, and Hispanic origin

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Table equivalent for chart. Poverty status, by marital status, sex of nonmarried persons, race, and Hispanic origin, 2007

Characteristic	Percent poor	Percent near poor
All persons	9.7	6.4
By marital status
Married	4.2	3.6
Nonmarried men	12.2	8.3
Nonmarried women	17.6	10.4
By race and Hispanic origin
White alone a	8.1	6.1
Black alone a	23.2	9.7
Hispanic	17.1	11.0

SOURCE: Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 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 Program

Earnings in Covered Employment, 1937–2008

People contribute to Social Security through payroll taxes or self-employment taxes, as required by the Federal 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 the 162 million workers with earnings in Social Security–covered employment in 2008, 6% had earnings that equaled or exceeded the maximum amount subject to taxes, compared with 3% when the program began and a peak of 36% in 1965. About 84% of earnings in covered employment were taxable in 2008, compared with 92% in 1937.

Taxable earnings as a percentage of earnings in covered employment and percentage of workers with maximum taxable earnings, selected years

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

Insured Status, 1970–2008

The percentage of persons aged 20 or older who are insured for benefits has remained the same for the past several years. To be fully insured, a worker must have at least one work credit (quarter of coverage) for each year elapsed after age 21 (but no earlier than 1950) and before the year in which he or she attains age 62, becomes disabled, or dies. The maximum number of work credits needed to be fully insured is 40. An individual is said to be permanently insured if he or she has earned 40 work credits. To be insured for disability, the worker must be fully insured and have at least 20 work credits during the last 40 calendar quarters. (Requirements for disability-insured status are somewhat different for persons younger than age 31.) Disability benefits are available up to full retirement age (FRA).

Insured Status, by Sex, 1970 and 2008

Although men are more likely than women to be insured, the gender gap is shrinking. The proportion of men who are insured has remained essentially stable, with 91% fully insured and 82% insured for disability. ^a By contrast, the proportion of women who are insured has increased dramatically—from 63% to 84% fully insured and from 41% to 76% insured for disability.

Percentage of population in the Social Security area fully insured and insured for disability benefits, by sex

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Table equivalent for chart. Percentage of population in the Social Security area fully insured and insured for disability benefits, by sex

Sex	1970	2008
Fully insured
Men	92	91
Women	63	84
Insured for disability a
Men	85	82
Women	41	76

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

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 civilian employees 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 age 64.

New Benefit Awards, 2008

Benefits were awarded to about 5.1 million persons; of those, 44% were retired workers and 17% were disabled workers. The remaining 39% 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 the rolls who become entitled to a different benefit, particularly conversions of disabled-worker benefits to retired-worker benefits at full retirement age.

New awards, 2008

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

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

New Awards to Workers, 1968–2008

Awards to retired workers have increased considerably over the past four decades, but proportionately much less than awards to disabled workers. The annualized rate of increase over the period from 1968 to 2008 is 1.5% for retired workers and 2.5% for disabled workers. The annual number of awards to retired workers rose from 1.2 million in 1968 to 2.3 million in 2008, while for disabled workers it increased from 323,000 in 1968 to 877,000 in 2008.

New awards to retired and disabled workers

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Table equivalent for chart. New awards to retired and disabled workers (in thousands)

Year	Retired workers	Disabled workers
1968	1200.00	323.00
1969	1272.78	344.74
1970	1338.11	350.38
1971	1391.40	415.90
1972	1461.40	455.44
1973	1493.19	491.62
1974	1413.15	535.98
1975	1505.75	592.05
1976	1475.77	551.46
1977	1593.63	568.87
1978	1472.79	464.42
1979	1590.85	416.71
1980	1612.67	396.56
1981	1578.99	351.85
1982	1618.41	297.13
1983	1669.74	311.55
1984	1607.37	362.00
1985	1690.49	377.37
1986	1734.25	416.87
1987	1681.72	415.85
1988	1654.07	409.49
1989	1656.74	425.58
1990	1664.75	467.98
1991	1695.35	536.43
1992	1707.95	636.64
1993	1661.28	635.24
1994	1625.35	631.87
1995	1609.17	645.83
1996	1581.45	624.34
1997	1718.62	587.42
1998	1631.51	608.13
1999	1690.02	620.49
2000	1960.65	621.65
2001	1779.23	691.31
2002	1812.55	750.00
2003	1791.32	777.46
2004	1883.06	795.78
2005	2000.00	830.00
2006	1999.00	799.00
2007	2036.00	805.00
2008	2279.00	877.00

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

Beneficiaries in Current-Payment Status, December 2008

More than 50 million beneficiaries were in current-payment status, that is, they were being paid a benefit. Sixty-three percent of those beneficiaries were retired workers and 15% were disabled workers. The remaining 23% were survivors or the spouses and children of retired or disabled workers.

Beneficiaries, by type

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

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

Average Benefit Amounts, 2008

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

Beneficiaries, by Age, December 2008

About four-fifths of all OASDI beneficiaries in current-payment status were aged 62 or older, including 24 percent aged 75–84 and 10 percent aged 85 or older. About 15 percent were persons aged 18–61 receiving benefits as disabled workers, survivors, or dependents. Another 6 percent were children under age 18.

Beneficiaries, by age

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

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

Disabled and Retired Workers, by Age, 1960–2008

The average age of disabled-worker beneficiaries in current-payment status has declined substantially since 1960, when DI benefits first became available to persons younger than age 50. In that year, the average age of a disabled worker was 57.2 years. The rapid drop in average age in the following years reflects a growing number of awards to workers under 50. By 1995, the average age had fallen to a low of 49.8, and by 2008, it had risen to 52.6. In contrast, the average age of retired workers has changed little over time, rising from 72.4 in 1960 to 73.9 in 2008.

Average age of disabled and retired workers, selected years

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Table equivalent for chart. Average age of disabled and retired workers, selected years

Year	Disabled workers	Retired workers
1960	57.2	72.4
1965	54.7	72.5
1970	54.2	72.3
1975	53.8	72.3
1980	53.2	72.4
1985	52.1	72.8
1990	50.5	73.1
1995	49.8	73.6
2000	50.8	73.9
2005	51.8	73.9
2006	52.1	74.0
2007	52.4	74.0
2008	52.6	73.9

SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 10 percent sample for 1988 and 1990–2005 and 100 percent data for all other years.

Beneficiaries, by Sex, December 2008

Of all adults receiving monthly Social Security benefits, 44% were men and 56% were women. Seventy-eight percent of the men and 59% of the women received retired-worker benefits. About one-fifth of the women received survivor benefits.

Adult beneficiaries, by type of beneficiary and sex

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Table equivalent for chart. Percentage distribution of adult beneficiaries by type of beneficiary, by sex, December 2008

Type of beneficiary	Men	Women
Retired workers	78	59
Disabled workers	19	13
Spouses of retired or disabled workers	a	9
Widow(er)s and mothers	a	17
Disabled adult children	2	1
a. Less than 0.5 percent.

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

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

Average Monthly Benefit, by Sex, December 2008

Among retired and disabled workers who collected benefits based on their own work records, men received a higher average monthly benefit than did women. For those with benefits based on another person's work record (spouses and survivors), women had higher average benefits.

Women Beneficiaries, 1940–2008

The proportion of women among retired-worker beneficiaries has quadrupled since 1940. The percentage climbed from 12% in 1940 to 47% in 1980, 48% in 1990, and 49% in 2008. The proportion of women among disabled-worker beneficiaries has more than doubled since 1957, when DI benefits first became payable. The percentage rose steadily from 19% in 1957 to 35% in 1990 and 47% in 2008.

Women beneficiaries as a percentage of retired workers and disabled workers, selected years

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Table equivalent for chart. Women as a percentage of retired worker and disabled worker beneficiaries, selected years

Year	Retired workers	Disabled workers
1940	11.6	--
1950	17.1	--
1957	--	19.1
1960	35.3	21.8
1970	42.4	28.4
1980	46.5	32.6
1990	47.7	34.7
2000	48.2	43.3
2005	48.6	46.0
2006	49.0	46.0
2007	49.0	47.0
2008	49.0	47.0
NOTE: -- = not available.

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

Women with Dual Entitlement, 1960–2008

The proportion of women aged 62 or older who are receiving benefits as dependents (that is, on the basis of their husbands' earnings record only) has been declining—from 57% in 1960 to 28% in 2008. At the same time, the proportion of women with dual entitlement (that is, paid on the basis of both their own earnings records and those of their husbands) has been increasing—from 5% in 1960 to 28% in 2008.

Women aged 62 or older, by basis of entitlement, selected years

SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 10 percent sample for 1993–2005 and 100 percent data for all other years.

SSI Program

Number of Recipients, 1974–2008

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides income support to needy persons aged 65 or older, blind or disabled adults, and blind or disabled children. Eligibility requirements and federal payment standards are nationally uniform. SSI replaced the former federal/state adult assistance programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Payments under SSI began in January 1974, with 3.2 million persons receiving federally administered payments. By December 1974, this number had risen to nearly 4 million and remained at about that level until the mid-1980s, then rose steadily, reaching nearly 6 million in 1993 and 7 million by the end of 2004. As of December 2008, the number of recipients was 7.5 million. Of this total, 4.3 million were between the ages of 18 and 64, 2 million were aged 65 or older, and 1.2 million were under age 18.

Persons receiving federally administered SSI payments, December

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Table equivalent for chart. Persons receiving federally administered SSI payments, December (in millions)

Year	Total	Under 18	18–64	65 or older
1974	4.0	0.1	1.5	2.4
1975	4.3	0.1	1.7	2.5
1976	4.2	0.1	1.7	2.4
1977	4.2	0.1	1.7	2.4
1978	4.2	0.2	1.7	2.3
1979	4.1	0.2	1.7	2.2
1980	4.1	0.2	1.7	2.2
1981	4.0	0.2	1.7	2.1
1982	3.9	0.2	1.7	2.0
1983	3.9	0.2	1.7	2.0
1984	4.0	0.2	1.8	2.0
1985	4.1	0.2	1.9	2.0
1986	4.3	0.2	2.0	2.0
1987	4.4	0.3	2.1	2.0
1988	4.5	0.3	2.2	2.0
1989	4.6	0.3	2.3	2.0
1990	4.8	0.3	2.4	2.1
1991	5.1	0.4	2.6	2.1
1992	5.6	0.6	2.9	2.1
1993	6.0	0.7	3.1	2.1
1994	6.3	0.8	3.3	2.1
1995	6.5	0.9	3.5	2.1
1996	6.6	1.0	3.6	2.1
1997	6.5	0.9	3.6	2.1
1998	6.6	0.9	3.6	2.0
1999	6.6	0.8	3.7	2.0
2000	6.6	0.8	3.7	2.0
2001	6.7	0.9	3.8	2.0
2002	6.8	0.9	3.9	2.0
2003	6.9	1.0	4.0	2.0
2004	7.0	1.0	4.0	2.0
2005	7.1	1.0	4.1	2.0
2006	7.2	1.1	4.2	2.0
2007	7.4	1.1	4.2	2.0
2008	7.5	1.2	4.3	2.0
NOTE: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.

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

Payment Amounts, by Age, December 2008

The average monthly federally administered SSI payment was $478. Payments varied by age group, ranging from an average of $561 for recipients aged under 18 to $396 for those aged 65 or older. The maximum federal benefit rate in December 2008 was $637 for an individual, $956 for a couple, plus any applicable state supplementation.

Average monthly federally administered SSI payment

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

NOTE: Amounts exclude retroactive payments.

Federally Administered Payments, December 2008

A total of 7.5 million persons received federally administered SSI payments. The majority received federal SSI only. States have the option of supplementing the federal benefit rate and are required to do so if that rate is less than the income the recipient would have had under the former state program.

Type of SSI payment

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

Basis for Eligibility and Age of Recipients, December 2008

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

SSI recipients, by basis for eligibility and age

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

Percentage Distribution of Recipients, by Age, 1974–2008

The proportion of SSI recipients aged 65 or older has declined from 61% in January 1974 to 27% in December 2008. The overall long-term growth of the SSI program has occurred because of an increase in the number of disabled recipients, most of whom are under age 65.

Percentage distribution of SSI recipients, by age, December

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Table equivalent for chart. Percentage distribution of SSI recipients, by age, December

Year	Under 18	18–64	65 or older
1974	1.8	37.6	60.6
1975	2.5	39.4	58.1
1976	3.0	40.5	56.6
1977	3.5	41.0	55.5
1978	3.9	41.4	54.6
1979	4.3	41.6	54.1
1980	4.6	41.8	53.6
1981	4.8	42.4	52.8
1982	5.0	42.9	52.1
1983	5.1	43.6	51.3
1984	5.3	44.2	50.6
1985	5.5	45.4	49.1
1986	5.6	47.1	47.3
1987	5.7	48.3	46.0
1988	5.7	49.3	44.9
1989	5.8	50.1	44.1
1990	6.4	50.9	42.7
1991	7.8	51.6	40.6
1992	10.0	52.3	37.7
1993	12.1	52.6	35.3
1994	13.4	53.0	33.7
1995	14.1	53.5	32.5
1996	14.4	54.0	31.6
1997	13.5	54.8	31.6
1998	13.5	55.5	31.0
1999	12.9	56.3	30.8
2000	12.8	56.7	30.5
2001	13.2	57.0	29.8
2002	13.5	57.1	29.4
2003	13.9	57.3	28.8
2004	14.2	57.5	28.3
2005	14.6	57.4	28.0
2006	14.9	57.4	27.7
2007	15.2	57.4	27.4
2008	15.3	57.6	27.0
NOTE: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.

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

Recipients, by Sex and Age, December 2008

Overall, 56% of the 7.5 million SSI recipients were women, but that percentage varied greatly by age group. Women accounted for 68% of the 2.0 million recipients aged 65 or older, 56% of the 4.3 million recipients aged 18–64, and 34% of the 1.2 million recipients under age 18.

SSI recipients, by sex and age

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Table equivalent for chart. Percentage distribution of SSI recipients by sex, by age, December 2008

Age	Men	Women
All ages	44	56
Under 18	66	34
18–64	44	56
65 or older	32	68

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

Other Income, December 2008

Fifty-seven percent of SSI recipients aged 65 or older received OASDI benefits, as did 32% of those aged 18–64 and 7% of those under age 18. Other types of unearned income, such as income from assets, were reported most frequently among those under age 18 (20%) and those aged 65 or older (14%). Earned income was most prevalent (6%) among those aged 18–64.

Other income of SSI recipients, by source and age

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Table equivalent for chart. Percentage of SSI recipients with other income, by source and age, December 2008

Age	OASDI	Other unearned income	Earnings
All ages	34.7	11.1	3.6
Under 18	7.2	19.5	0.2
18–64	31.7	7.6	5.6
65 or older	56.8	13.7	1.4

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

OASDI, SSI, or Both

All Beneficiaries, December 2008

About 55.8 million people received a payment from Social Security. Most (48.3 million) received OASDI benefits only, about 4.9 million received SSI only, and 2.6 million received payments from both programs.

Distribution of all beneficiaries

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.

Beneficiaries Aged 65 or Older, December 2008

Benefits were paid to 37 million people aged 65 or older. Nearly 1.2 million received both OASDI and SSI.

Distribution of beneficiaries aged 65 or older,
by program

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.

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

b. Includes 830,300 SSI beneficiaries aged 65 or older who are disabled or blind.

Disabled Beneficiaries Aged 18–64, December 2008

Payments were made to 11.1 million people aged 18–64 on the basis of their own disability. Sixty-one percent received disability payments from the OASDI program only, 27% received payments from the SSI program only, and 12% received payments from both programs.

Distribution of disabled beneficiaries aged 18–64

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

NOTE: SSI includes federal SSI payments and federally administered state supplementation.

Children

OASDI Beneficiaries, December 2008

More than 3.2 million children under age 18 and students aged 18–19 received OASDI benefits. Children of deceased workers had the highest average payments, in part because they are eligible to receive monthly benefits based on 75% of the worker's PIA, compared with 50% for children of retired or disabled workers. Overall, the average monthly benefit amount for children was $512.

Number of and average monthly benefit for children of worker beneficiaries

Number of children of—

Average monthly benefit for children of—

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Table equivalent for chart. Number and average monthly benefit for children receiving OASDI, by type of beneficiary, December 2008

Type of beneficiary	Number (thousands)	Average monthly benefit (dollars)
Children of retired workers	303	554
Children of disabled workers	1,607	311
Children of deceased workers	1,350	741

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

SSI Recipients, 1974–2008

In 1974, when the program began, 70,900 blind and disabled children were receiving SSI. That number increased to 955,000 in 1996, declined to 847,000 in 2000, and is now 1,153,800. The relatively high average payment to children (compared with payments made to blind and disabled adults) is due in part to a limited amount of other countable income. The spike in average monthly benefits in 1992 is due to retroactive payments resulting from the Sullivan v. Zebley decision. As of December 2008, blind and disabled children were receiving SSI payments averaging $561.

Number of and average monthly payment to children under age 18 receiving SSI

Number of children under age 18 receiving SSI

Average monthly SSI payment to children under age 18^a

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Table equivalent for chart. Number of children under age 18 receiving SSI, and average monthly SSI payment to children under age 18

Year	Number of children receiving SSI (in thousands)	Average monthly SSI payment (in percent) a
1974	70.90	109.15
1975	107.03	141.09
1976	125.41	154.24
1977	147.36	170.03
1978	165.90	171.72
1979	177.31	193.26
1980	190.39	219.08
1981	194.89	240.84
1982	191.57	263.22
1983	198.32	280.96
1984	211.59	292.86
1985	227.38	301.26
1986	241.20	321.34
1987	250.90	327.27
1988	255.14	343.24
1989	264.89	357.64
1990	308.59	403.72
1991	397.16	446.05
1992	556.47	610.98
1993	722.68	460.54
1994	841.47	448.07
1995	917.05	447.57
1996	955.17	442.01
1997	879.83	433.83
1998	887.07	441.75
1999	847.06	450.13
2000	846.78	463.05
2001	881.84	476.09
2002	914.82	487.73
2003	959.38	490.63
2004	993.13	505.98
2005	1036.50	522.80
2006	1079.00	542.00
2007	1121.00	555.00
2008	1153.80	561.00
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format), 100 percent data.
NOTE: SSI = Supplemental Security Income.
a. As of 1998, these figures exclude retroactive payments.

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

a. As of 1998, these figures exclude retroactive payments.

Social Security Financing

How Social Security Is Financed

Social Security is largely a pay-as-you-go program. Most of the payroll taxes collected from today's workers are used to pay benefits to today's recipients. In 2008, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds collected $805.3 billion in revenues. Of that amount, 83% was derived from payroll taxes and 2% from income taxes on Social Security benefits. Interest earned on the government bonds held by the trust funds provided the remaining 14% of income. Assets increased in 2008 because income exceeded expenditures for benefit payments and administrative expenses.

Sources and uses of Social Security revenues in 2008

SOURCES: 2009 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, Table II.B1.

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

Social Security's Demographic Challenge

The number of retired workers is projected to grow rapidly starting in 2008, when the members of the post–World War II baby boom begin to reach early retirement age, and will double in less than 30 years. People are also living longer, and the birth rate is low. As a result, the ratio of workers paying Social Security taxes to people collecting benefits will fall from 3.2 to 1 in 2008 to 2.1 to 1 by 2034. The Trustees Report projects that in 2016, when the ratio will be 2.8, there will not be enough workers to pay scheduled benefits at current tax rates. The Trustees Report also projects that redemption of trust fund assets will be sufficient to allow for full payment of scheduled benefits until 2037.

Ratio of covered workers to Social Security beneficiaries

SOURCE: 2009 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, Table IV.B2.

The Long-Run Financial Outlook

Social Security is not sustainable over the long term at current benefit and tax rates. Within 7 years the program will begin paying more in benefits than it collects in taxes (see the chart below). By 2037 the trust funds will be exhausted. At that point, payroll taxes and other income will flow into the fund but will be sufficient to pay only 76% of program costs. As reported in the 2009 Trustees Report, the shortfall over the next 75 years is 2.00% of taxable payroll.

Social Security income minus costs as a percentage of taxable payroll

SOURCE: 2009 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, Table IV.B1.