Puerto Rico

Program Data

Social Security

The Social Security program—Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)—provides monthly benefits to workers and their families when the worker retires, dies, or becomes disabled. The amount of the worker's retirement insurance (old-age) or disability benefit is based on the worker's level of earnings in employment or self-employment covered by the Social Security program. Monthly benefits are payable to retired workers at age 62 (with reduced benefits) or to disabled workers at any age. The benefit amount for an auxiliary or survivor beneficiary is based on a percentage of the worker's benefit. Auxiliary and survivor beneficiaries must generally meet an age, disability, or child care requirement.

A total of 47,707,330 persons received benefits for December 2004. This number included 29,971,970 retired workers, 4,825,650 widows and widowers, 6,192,210 disabled workers, 2,723,630 wives and husbands, and 3,993,870 children. Social Security beneficiaries represented 15.8 percent of the total population and 90.7 percent of the population aged 65 or older.

Retired workers received an average monthly benefit of $955; widows and widowers, $897 (nondisabled widows and widowers, $920); disabled workers, $894; and wives and husbands of retired and disabled workers, $464. Average benefits for children of retired, deceased, and disabled workers were $466, $625, and $265, respectively.

Monthly benefits for December 2004 totaled $41.6 billion. Of this amount, $30.1 billion was paid to retired workers and their spouses and children, $5.5 billion to survivors, and $6.0 billion to disabled workers and their spouses and children. Average and total monthly benefits include the 2.7 percent cost-of-living increase effective December 2004.

In Puerto Rico, benefits were paid to 704,880 persons. This number included 327,620 retired workers, 81,610 widows and widowers, 134,540 disabled workers, 63,480 wives and husbands, and 97,630 children.

Retired workers in Puerto Rico received an average of $635 per month; widows and widowers, $555; disabled workers, $767; and wives and husbands of retired and disabled workers, $283. Average benefits for children were $287 for children of retired workers, $422 for children of deceased workers, and $205 for children of disabled workers.

Monthly benefits for December 2004 totaled $404 million. Of this amount, $229 million was paid to retired workers and their spouses and children, $61 million to survivors, and $114 million to disabled workers and their spouses and children.

Earnings and Employment Data

Social Security

Nationally, in 2003, the latest year for which state data are available, an estimated 154.5 million persons worked in employment that was covered under the Social Security (Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI)) program. They earned $4.4 trillion in Social Security taxable earnings. Employees, employers, and the self-employed paid a total of $541 billion in Social Security taxes to the OASI and DI trust funds.

In Puerto Rico in 2003, an estimated 1.19 million residents worked in employment covered under the Social Security program. They had $20.19 billion in Social Security taxable earnings. Employees, employers, and the self-employed paid a total of $2.50 billion in Social Security taxes.

Medicare

Nationally, in 2003, the latest year for which state data are available, an estimated 158.1 million persons worked in employment that was covered under the Medicare (Hospital Insurance, or HI) program. They earned $5.3 trillion in Medicare taxable earnings. Employees, employers, and the self-employed paid a total of $153 billion in Medicare taxes to the HI trust fund.

In Puerto Rico in 2003, an estimated 1.23 million residents worked in employment covered under the Medicare program. They had $22.13 billion in Medicare taxable earnings. Employees, employers, and the self-employed paid a total of $642 million in Medicare taxes.