Income of the Population 55 or Older, 2008

Income from Social Security

Social Security Income of Aged Units

Social Security Income of Units 65 or Older

Family Social Security Income of Aged Persons

Family Social Security Income of Persons 65 or Older

Key Terms and Concepts for Section 5 1

Age. Age classification is based on the age of the person at his or her last birthday as of March 2009. A married couple's age is defined as the age of the husband—unless he is under age 55 and the wife is 55 or older, in which case it is the age of the wife.

Aged unit. With age 55 as the cutoff, aged units are defined as married couples living together—at least one of whom is 55 or older—and nonmarried persons 55 or older.

Marital status. Married persons are married and living with their spouse. Nonmarried persons may be divorced, widowed, never married, separated, or married but living apart from their spouse.

Race. The categories White alone, Black alone, and Asian alone reflect respondents who reported only one race. Because of changes to the race category, data on race are not directly comparable to editions prior to 2002. A person's race is his or her reported race. A married couple's race is defined as the race of the husband.

Hispanic origin. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. A married couple is of Hispanic origin if the husband is of Hispanic origin.

Family. A family is a group of two or more people (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family.

Social Security beneficiary. A beneficiary may be receiving retired-worker benefits, dependents' or survivor benefits, disability benefits, or transitionally insured benefits.

The ratio of Social Security income to total income. This ratio is defined as Social Security income divided by total income. Units and persons in families with less than $1 of total income or negative earnings or asset income are excluded from these tables.

Notes

 1 For more information, consult the Glossary for this report.

Tables

Social Security Income of Aged Units Table 5.A1 Percentage distribution of beneficiary units, by age, 2008
Aged unit Social Security benefits (dollars) Aged 55–61 Aged 62–64 Aged 65 or older
Total 65–69 70–74 75–79 80 or older
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0.2 0.9 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 0
500–999 0.8 1.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1
1,000–1,499 0.8 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3
1,500–1,999 0.6 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1
2,000–2,499 0.4 1.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.6
2,500–2,999 0.7 1.3 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3
3,000–3,499 0.7 1.0 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.5 0.4
3,500–3,999 1.6 1.7 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.7
4,000–4,499 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.7
4,500–4,999 1.8 1.8 0.8 0.9 0.5 0.8 1.1
5,000–5,999 3.4 2.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.7 2.1
6,000–6,999 3.3 4.1 1.8 2.2 1.9 1.1 2.0
7,000–7,999 5.6 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.3
8,000–8,999 8.8 6.6 4.1 3.3 4.0 4.5 4.5
9,000–9,999 6.6 7.1 4.6 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.5
10,000–10,999 5.6 7.3 5.7 5.1 5.6 5.8 6.1
11,000–11,999 5.4 4.9 5.8 5.1 5.7 6.4 6.3
12,000–12,999 5.5 4.0 4.8 4.0 4.8 4.7 5.7
13,000–13,999 7.2 5.8 7.7 5.6 5.8 8.8 9.9
14,000–14,999 5.4 5.3 6.0 5.0 5.3 5.7 7.6
15,000–19,999 17.5 20.3 21.6 23.2 20.3 21.0 21.5
20,000–24,999 10.5 8.0 13.4 14.3 15.8 14.0 10.7
25,000 or more 6.7 8.1 14.9 17.8 17.8 14.8 10.4
Median Social Security benefits (dollars) 12,425 12,157 14,966 15,600 15,557 14,957 14,045
Number (thousands) 2,246 2,482 25,210 6,643 5,529 5,135 7,902
 
Social Security Income of Aged Units Table 5.A2 Percentage distribution of beneficiary units, by marital status and age, 2008
Aged unit Social Security benefits (dollars) Married couples Nonmarried persons
Aged 55–61 Aged 62–64 Aged 65 or older Aged 55–61 Aged 62–64 Aged 65 or older
Total 65–69 70–74 75–79 80 or older Total 65–69 70–74 75–79 80 or older
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0.4 0.6 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
500–999 0.9 1.7 0.1 0.2 0 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.1
1,000–1,499 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 1.0 0.9 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.4
1,500–1,999 0.5 1.1 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1 0 0.6 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1
2,000–2,499 0.6 1.7 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.5 0 0.3 1.4 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8
2,500–2,999 0.5 1.0 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 1.0 1.7 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4
3,000–3,499 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.8 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.8 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5
3,500–3,999 2.1 1.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.6 1.2 2.1 0.7 1.1 0.6 0.6 0.7
4,000–4,499 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.8 1.0 1.2 0.5 0.8
4,500–4,999 1.8 1.0 0.4 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.7 2.6 1.1 1.1 0.8 1.2 1.3
5,000–5,999 3.3 2.0 0.8 1.2 0.7 0.9 0.2 3.5 3.7 2.6 2.6 2.8 2.3 2.8
6,000–6,999 3.9 4.5 0.9 1.1 0.5 0.4 1.2 2.7 3.6 2.5 3.4 3.1 1.6 2.3
7,000–7,999 5.0 4.1 1.3 1.9 1.0 1.2 0.8 6.3 3.1 4.7 4.9 5.1 4.7 4.3
8,000–8,999 6.1 4.8 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.6 2.0 11.8 8.6 5.9 5.3 6.5 6.5 5.5
9,000–9,999 3.9 5.5 1.5 2.0 1.7 1.3 0.9 9.6 9.0 6.8 6.5 6.5 6.4 7.2
10,000–10,999 4.3 4.8 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.1 1.9 7.1 10.2 8.0 8.0 8.6 8.2 7.7
11,000–11,999 3.8 3.4 2.3 3.0 2.5 1.6 1.4 7.2 6.5 8.4 7.5 8.6 9.7 8.1
12,000–12,999 3.9 4.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.5 1.6 7.2 3.9 6.7 6.0 7.2 6.2 7.2
13,000–13,999 8.0 4.6 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.6 2.8 6.4 7.2 10.9 8.6 8.4 12.3 12.6
14,000–14,999 5.9 4.9 4.1 4.7 3.5 3.8 4.4 4.8 5.7 7.4 5.4 7.0 7.0 8.9
15,000–19,999 20.1 21.7 19.6 20.9 17.9 17.8 21.2 14.7 18.7 23.0 26.0 22.5 23.2 21.7
20,000–24,999 13.8 11.9 25.0 20.0 26.9 28.0 28.3 6.9 3.5 5.2 7.6 5.6 4.5 4.1
25,000 or more 9.6 13.8 32.6 31.5 34.7 33.3 31.2 3.6 1.6 2.3 1.6 2.1 2.4 2.7
Median Social Security benefits (dollars) 13,793 14,400 21,514 20,357 22,306 21,994 21,514 11,141 10,757 12,734 12,720 12,365 12,881 12,965
Number (thousands) 1,167 1,326 10,474 3,597 2,662 2,069 2,147 1,079 1,156 14,735 3,047 2,867 3,066 5,755
 
Social Security Income of Units 65 or Older Table 5.A3 Percentage distribution of beneficiary units, by race, Hispanic origin, and marital status, 2008
Aged unit Social Security benefits (dollars) White alone Black alone Asian alone Hispanic origin
All units Married couples Nonmarried persons All units Married couples Nonmarried persons All units Married couples Nonmarried persons All units Married couples Nonmarried persons
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0.1 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0 0.2
500–999 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.1 0 0.2 0 0.4
1,000–1,499 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.4
1,500–1,999 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0 0.1 0.3 0.6 0 0.3 0.2 0.4
2,000–2,499 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.8 0 0 0 0.3 0.5 0.1
2,500–2,999 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.9 0.1 0.8 0.9 0.7
3,000–3,499 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 0 1.3 0.6 0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.2
3,500–3,999 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.8 1.7 0.6 2.7 0.8 0.1 1.3
4,000–4,499 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.9 0 1.2 1.0 0.7 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1
4,500–4,999 0.8 0.4 1.1 1.1 0.2 1.5 0.9 1.1 0.8 1.0 0.7 1.1
5,000–5,999 1.8 0.8 2.5 2.9 1.8 3.2 2.6 1.5 3.7 3.6 1.2 5.2
6,000–6,999 1.6 0.8 2.2 3.5 2.2 4.0 2.8 1.1 4.5 3.0 1.6 4.0
7,000–7,999 2.8 1.1 4.1 6.9 2.4 8.5 5.7 3.9 7.6 6.4 2.8 8.6
8,000–8,999 3.6 1.5 5.2 8.0 1.7 10.3 4.6 1.9 7.3 9.2 4.8 11.9
9,000–9,999 4.2 1.4 6.4 7.1 3.1 8.6 6.8 2.9 10.7 6.6 3.5 8.6
10,000–10,999 5.3 2.2 7.7 8.8 4.1 10.5 5.7 2.4 9.0 6.1 3.0 8.2
11,000–11,999 5.6 2.1 8.3 7.8 4.2 9.1 6.3 3.8 8.8 9.6 6.3 11.7
12,000–12,999 4.8 2.1 6.9 5.4 3.4 6.1 4.1 3.1 5.0 5.4 3.7 6.5
13,000–13,999 7.8 3.0 11.4 7.3 5.5 8.0 6.1 5.0 7.3 6.5 5.6 7.0
14,000–14,999 6.1 4.0 7.6 5.9 5.6 6.0 6.6 5.9 7.3 5.8 8.0 4.4
15,000–19,999 22.3 19.3 24.5 16.1 22.0 14.0 17.0 18.5 15.5 16.5 21.9 13.0
20,000–24,999 14.2 25.8 5.4 6.9 17.0 3.3 11.0 18.0 4.1 8.5 17.5 2.7
25,000 or more 15.7 33.4 2.4 7.6 24.7 1.4 14.9 26.7 3.2 6.5 14.5 1.3
Median Social Security benefits (dollars) 15,514 21,658 13,157 11,957 18,000 10,757 13,637 18,742 11,157 11,957 15,600 10,757
Number (thousands) 21,977 9,429 12,548 2,240 595 1,645 644 319 325 1,582 619 963
 
Social Security Income of Units 65 or Older Table 5.A4 Percentage distribution of beneficiary units, by marital status and quintile of total money income, 2008
Aged unit Social Security benefits (dollars) All units Married couples Nonmarried persons
First Second Third Fourth Fifth First Second Third Fourth Fifth First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.6 0 0 0 0
500–999 0.7 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 0.1 0.2 0 1.2 0 0.1 0.1 0.1
1,000–1,499 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0.1 0 0.1 1.4 0 0.3 0.4 0.6
1,500–1,999 0.5 0.1 0 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0.1 0.7 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2
2,000–2,499 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.6 0.5 0 0 0.3 0.4 1.4 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.5
2,500–2,999 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.5 1.5 0 0.3 0.4 0.2
3,000–3,499 1.0 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 0 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.1 0.8 0.6
3,500–3,999 1.9 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.5 2.9 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5
4,000–4,499 1.8 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0 2.7 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.4
4,500–4,999 2.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.9 0 0.5 0.3 0.5 3.8 0.6 0.4 0.5 1.2
5,000–5,999 6.3 1.3 0.9 0.8 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.2 0.8 1.4 10.7 1.1 1.3 1.3 1.0
6,000–6,999 6.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.4 0.3 0.6 0.8 1.3 10.8 1.2 0.5 1.3 1.0
7,000–7,999 10.9 2.2 1.3 2.0 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.0 1.3 1.3 17.7 2.8 2.2 2.0 2.2
8,000–8,999 14.6 3.0 2.1 1.5 1.1 3.0 1.8 1.1 0.8 1.3 22.2 4.3 2.8 2.5 1.8
9,000–9,999 15.0 3.2 2.9 2.3 1.5 3.6 0.7 1.0 1.1 1.4 20.3 6.1 3.0 4.4 3.7
10,000–10,999 16.9 4.8 3.3 2.9 2.5 4.7 1.0 1.9 2.2 2.1 0.2 22.8 4.8 5.0 4.5
11,000–11,999 15.1 6.0 5.0 2.4 2.4 5.1 1.1 2.0 1.7 1.6 0 21.8 5.8 7.0 4.4
12,000–12,999 2.2 11.3 4.3 3.1 2.3 2.9 1.3 2.4 2.4 1.9 0.1 15.8 5.4 6.2 4.0
13,000–13,999 0.1 20.0 6.8 5.4 3.9 5.8 2.1 2.5 3.2 2.5 0.1 19.9 12.3 9.7 8.9
14,000–14,999 0.1 13.2 6.5 4.9 3.8 8.2 2.9 3.1 3.8 3.2 0.1 2.0 17.2 8.8 6.7
15,000–19,999 0.1 32.0 26.3 23.1 21.7 31.8 17.3 14.5 19.5 16.0 0.1 0 42.1 32.4 35.6
20,000–24,999 0 0 27.5 20.2 17.3 26.0 35.8 26.5 18.7 16.8 0 0 0.4 12.5 12.6
25,000 or more 0 0 9.8 27.2 36.8 0.1 32.7 41.5 41.2 45.5 0 0 0 2.9 8.5
Median Social Security benefits (dollars) 8,957 13,633 17,273 19,157 21,157 16,594 23,143 23,357 22,800 23,477 7,457 11,441 14,393 14,500 15,557
Number (thousands) 4,231 5,484 5,374 5,243 4,878 1,936 2,258 2,205 2,109 1,967 2,277 3,239 3,228 3,132 2,858
NOTE: Quintile limits are $12,082, $19,877, $31,303, and $55,889 for all units; $23,637, $35,794, $53,180, and $86,988 for married couples; and $9,929, $14,265, $20,187, and $32,937 for nonmarried persons.
Social Security Income of Units 65 or Older Table 5.A5 Percentage distribution of Social Security beneficiary units, by proportion of aged unit income from Social Security and marital status, 2008
Aged unit Social Security benefits (dollars) Proportion of aged unit income from Social Security
Less than 50 percent 50–89 percent 90–99 percent 100 percent
All units Married couples Nonmarried persons All units Married couples Nonmarried persons All units Married couples Nonmarried persons All units Married couples Nonmarried persons
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 0 0.2
500–999 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.1 0 0.3 0 0 0 0.2 0.3 0.2
1,000–1,499 0.7 0.1 1.4 0.1 0 0.2 0.1 0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1
1,500–1,999 0.6 0.4 0.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.2
2,000–2,499 1.3 0.5 2.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 0 0.4
2,500–2,999 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.5
3,000–3,499 1.0 0.7 1.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.4
3,500–3,999 1.1 0.8 1.4 0.1 0.1 0 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.8 0.2 1.0
4,000–4,499 1.1 0.4 1.8 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.5
4,500–4,999 1.3 0.6 2.3 0.5 0.3 0.7 0.4 0 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.8
5,000–5,999 2.3 1.4 3.4 1.3 0.2 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.5 0.5 3.0
6,000–6,999 1.8 1.4 2.3 1.4 0 2.5 1.0 0.1 1.5 2.8 1.2 3.2
7,000–7,999 3.2 2.3 4.4 2.6 0.2 4.3 2.8 0 4.2 4.5 0.9 5.5
8,000–8,999 3.2 2.4 4.3 3.1 0.6 5.0 3.3 0.2 4.9 7.3 2.1 8.7
9,000–9,999 3.9 2.0 6.3 3.4 0.9 5.3 5.0 1.0 7.1 7.0 1.8 8.5
10,000–10,999 4.7 3.1 6.5 4.2 0.7 6.9 5.5 2.2 7.1 9.3 3.3 11.0
11,000–11,999 4.3 2.7 6.3 5.3 1.8 7.8 6.2 0.3 9.2 8.9 3.2 10.4
12,000–12,999 4.4 3.3 5.7 4.0 0.9 6.2 5.5 0.7 8.0 6.3 1.6 7.6
13,000–13,999 6.4 4.3 9.0 7.9 1.6 12.4 9.0 2.1 12.5 8.9 3.4 10.4
14,000–14,999 5.5 4.7 6.5 5.7 2.6 8.0 7.1 4.4 8.5 6.8 5.6 7.1
15,000–19,999 22.3 20.7 24.4 23.8 16.8 28.9 23.0 16.3 26.4 16.8 24.4 14.8
20,000–24,999 13.2 18.9 6.2 16.2 29.6 6.4 15.6 38.0 4.2 8.6 27.5 3.4
25,000 or more 16.5 28.2 1.9 19.7 43.4 2.3 13.5 33.6 3.3 6.6 23.1 2.1
Median Social Security benefits (dollars) 15,557 19,157 12,504 16,757 23,914 13,481 15,520 22,514 13,157 12,521 20,014 11,669
Number (thousands) 9,052 5,027 4,025 7,425 3,141 4,284 3,023 1,017 2,006 5,553 1,200 4,353
NOTE: Units with zero total income or with negative total income, earnings, or income from assets are excluded.
Family Social Security Income of Aged Persons Table 5.B1 Percentage distribution of persons in Social Security beneficiary families, by sex and age, 2008
Family Social Security benefits (dollars) All persons Men Women
55–61 62–64 65 or older 55–61 62–64 65 or older 55–61 62–64 65 or older
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0.2 0.6 0 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.6 0
500–999 0.6 1.1 0.2 0.7 1.2 0.1 0.5 1.1 0.2
1,000–1,499 0.7 0.4 0.2 0.9 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.5 0.3
1,500–1,999 0.4 1.3 0.2 0.3 1.1 0.2 0.4 1.4 0.2
2,000–2,499 0.7 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 0.5
2,500–2,999 0.6 1.1 0.4 0.4 1.3 0.4 0.8 1.0 0.4
3,000–3,499 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 0.5
3,500–3,999 1.2 1.3 0.5 1.6 1.6 0.4 1.0 1.1 0.6
4,000–4,499 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.7
4,500–4,999 1.0 1.4 0.7 1.3 1.1 0.5 0.7 1.6 0.9
5,000–5,999 2.6 2.2 1.5 3.0 2.6 1.0 2.4 2.0 1.9
6,000–6,999 2.6 3.7 1.6 2.9 4.8 1.2 2.4 2.9 1.9
7,000–7,999 4.0 3.0 2.6 4.3 3.9 1.8 3.9 2.4 3.1
8,000–8,999 6.1 4.6 3.3 6.7 5.6 2.3 5.7 4.0 4.0
9,000–9,999 5.7 4.7 3.7 5.3 5.6 2.6 5.9 4.1 4.4
10,000–10,999 5.5 5.2 4.5 5.7 5.8 3.3 5.4 4.8 5.4
11,000–11,999 4.5 4.5 4.7 5.3 4.1 3.7 4.0 4.7 5.5
12,000–12,999 4.7 3.5 3.9 4.7 4.2 3.2 4.7 3.0 4.4
13,000–13,999 6.6 4.8 6.1 7.4 4.4 4.9 6.2 5.1 7.1
14,000–14,999 6.6 5.1 5.3 7.2 5.0 4.9 6.3 5.2 5.6
15,000–19,999 21.6 20.2 20.4 18.0 20.6 21.6 23.8 20.0 19.4
20,000–24,999 11.3 12.3 17.1 10.1 10.4 20.6 12.1 13.6 14.4
25,000 or more 11.1 16.5 21.7 12.0 13.0 25.9 10.6 18.7 18.6
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 14,148 14,657 16,800 13,337 13,800 19,114 14,357 15,557 15,557
Number (thousands) 5,296 4,382 33,512 1,996 1,735 14,390 3,300 2,647 19,122
 
Family Social Security Income of Persons 65 or Older Table 5.B2 Percentage distribution of persons in Social Security beneficiary families, by sex and age, 2008
Family Social Security benefits (dollars) All persons Men Women
65–69 70–74 75–79 80 or older 65–69 70–74 75–79 80 or older 65–69 70–74 75–79 80 or older
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.1 0
500–999 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.1
1,000–1,499 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3
1,500–1,999 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 0 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2
2,000–2,499 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
2,500–2,999 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
3,000–3,499 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.3
3,500–3,999 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.7
4,000–4,499 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.8
4,500–4,999 0.7 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.9 1.1
5,000–5,999 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.3 0.9 1.2 0.4 1.7 1.9 1.4 2.3
6,000–6,999 1.9 1.5 1.1 1.7 1.4 1.0 0.9 1.4 2.4 2.0 1.2 1.9
7,000–7,999 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.5 1.9 2.0 1.7 1.5 3.2 2.9 3.3 3.1
8,000–8,999 2.6 3.1 3.8 3.8 2.1 2.2 2.7 2.5 3.1 3.8 4.7 4.6
9,000–9,999 3.2 3.3 3.6 4.6 2.5 2.4 2.8 3.0 3.8 4.0 4.2 5.5
10,000–10,999 3.9 4.4 4.5 5.1 3.1 3.4 3.5 3.4 4.6 5.1 5.3 6.2
11,000–11,999 4.3 4.1 5.2 5.3 4.0 3.5 3.8 3.2 4.5 4.6 6.3 6.5
12,000–12,999 3.0 4.1 3.7 4.8 2.9 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.2 4.6 3.9 5.7
13,000–13,999 4.3 4.8 7.2 8.4 4.4 3.8 5.6 6.0 4.3 5.6 8.4 9.8
14,000–14,999 4.2 4.8 5.3 6.9 4.3 4.0 4.5 7.0 4.2 5.4 6.0 6.8
15,000–19,999 20.7 18.9 20.4 21.2 22.9 20.1 20.0 22.8 18.7 17.9 20.6 20.3
20,000–24,999 17.6 19.3 17.5 14.3 18.5 22.1 22.5 20.3 16.8 17.1 13.7 10.8
25,000 or more 25.7 24.7 20.6 15.9 26.4 29.3 25.3 22.2 25.0 21.1 17.0 12.1
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 17,957 18,000 16,913 15,317 18,317 20,314 19,200 18,437 17,381 16,397 15,216 13,997
Number (thousands) 9,813 7,756 6,698 9,244 4,612 3,437 2,899 3,441 5,201 4,319 3,799 5,803
 
Family Social Security Income of Persons 65 or Older Table 5.B3 Percentage distribution of persons in Social Security beneficiary families, by sex and marital status, 2008
Family Social Security benefits (dollars) All persons Men Women
Married Nonmarried Married Nonmarried Married Nonmarried
Total Widowed Divorced Never married Total Widowed Divorced Never married Total Widowed Divorced Never married
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.3 0.4 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0
500–999 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.2 0 0 1.3 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.4
1,000–1,499 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 0.5 0.5 0.6 0
1,500–1,999 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0
2,000–2,499 0.2 0.7 0.6 1.1 0.8 0.2 0.9 0.3 1.6 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.9
2,500–2,999 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.1 0 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 1.5
3,000–3,499 0.3 0.6 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.5 0 1.2 1.2 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.8 1.4
3,500–3,999 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.1 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.2 0 0.4 0.8 0.6 1.3 1.9
4,000–4,499 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.9 1.7 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.9 0.6 1.2 1.8
4,500–4,999 0.4 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.2 0.4 0.7 1.0 0.6 0 0.4 1.2 0.9 1.4 2.0
5,000–5,999 0.8 2.4 2.1 2.2 2.6 0.9 1.3 1.3 0.8 1.4 0.7 2.7 2.3 3.1 3.5
6,000–6,999 1.0 2.4 1.8 3.2 3.8 0.9 2.0 1.2 1.4 5.0 1.1 2.6 2.0 4.3 3.0
7,000–7,999 1.3 4.1 3.4 5.4 4.6 1.4 3.0 2.2 3.5 4.8 1.3 4.6 3.7 6.7 4.5
8,000–8,999 1.5 5.5 5.0 6.4 5.4 1.5 4.5 4.2 4.5 4.1 1.5 5.9 5.2 7.5 6.4
9,000–9,999 1.5 6.4 6.0 7.1 6.5 1.5 5.6 5.2 4.4 8.5 1.5 6.6 6.2 8.8 5.1
10,000–10,999 2.0 7.5 7.0 8.6 9.8 2.1 6.6 4.7 7.8 11.1 1.9 7.9 7.6 9.1 8.8
11,000–11,999 2.1 8.0 8.3 7.7 7.9 2.2 7.6 8.4 6.6 7.8 1.9 8.2 8.2 8.5 8.0
12,000–12,999 1.9 6.4 6.3 6.5 7.3 2.1 6.2 5.8 7.1 5.0 1.7 6.5 6.5 6.1 8.9
13,000–13,999 2.8 10.2 11.8 7.7 7.3 3.1 9.6 11.3 8.6 8.1 2.5 10.5 11.9 7.1 6.6
14,000–14,999 3.7 7.4 8.5 5.4 2.9 4.1 7.2 9.4 4.5 2.7 3.2 7.4 8.3 6.1 3.1
15,000–19,999 18.2 23.0 23.4 24.9 18.8 19.1 28.2 27.0 34.8 21.4 17.1 21.1 22.5 18.7 16.9
20,000–24,999 25.6 6.4 6.4 5.3 9.2 25.0 8.8 10.0 6.5 9.9 26.4 5.5 5.5 4.5 8.6
25,000 or more 35.1 5.0 5.6 3.3 5.7 33.6 5.1 6.1 4.3 4.3 37.0 5.0 5.5 2.7 6.7
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 22,114 13,157 13,181 12,425 12,000 21,600 13,757 14,357 14,046 12,077 22,714 12,893 13,157 11,645 12,000
Number (thousands) 18,629 14,883 9,915 3,073 1,221 10,465 3,925 1,916 1,186 521 8,163 10,959 8,000 1,888 700
 
Family Social Security Income of Persons 65 or Older Table 5.B4 Percentage distribution of persons in Social Security beneficiary families, by race, Hispanic origin, and sex, 2008
Family Social Security benefits (dollars) White alone Black alone Asian alone Hispanic origin
All persons Men Women All persons Men Women All persons Men Women All persons Men Women
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0 0.2
500–999 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.9 0.3 0.3 0 0.6
1,000–1,499 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3
1,500–1,999 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.1
2,000–2,499 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.8 0 0 0 0.3 0.2 0.4
2,500–2,999 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.8
3,000–3,499 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.7 0 1.2 0.4 0 0.8 1.3 1.1 1.4
3,500–3,999 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.2 1.6 0.9 0.6 0.1 1.1
4,000–4,499 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.6 0 1.0 0.9 0.6 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.3
4,500–4,999 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.9 0 1.4 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.1
5,000–5,999 1.4 0.9 1.7 2.4 1.3 3.2 2.0 1.8 2.1 2.6 1.9 3.2
6,000–6,999 1.4 0.9 1.8 3.4 3.8 3.2 2.5 1.5 3.2 2.2 1.0 3.1
7,000–7,999 2.2 1.6 2.7 5.8 3.4 7.4 4.1 3.7 4.4 4.3 3.6 4.9
8,000–8,999 2.9 2.1 3.5 6.7 4.3 8.3 3.7 2.1 4.9 7.6 6.1 8.8
9,000–9,999 3.4 2.3 4.2 6.1 5.5 6.5 5.5 5.3 5.7 5.3 4.6 5.8
10,000–10,999 4.2 3.1 5.1 7.3 6.4 7.9 5.2 3.5 6.5 5.2 4.4 5.7
11,000–11,999 4.5 3.3 5.4 7.0 6.8 7.1 5.5 5.5 5.4 7.8 7.1 8.3
12,000–12,999 3.8 3.0 4.4 4.6 6.0 3.6 3.7 2.6 4.6 5.0 4.7 5.2
13,000–13,999 6.1 4.8 7.2 6.2 5.7 6.4 5.5 6.0 5.0 5.9 7.1 5.0
14,000–14,999 5.2 4.8 5.6 6.3 6.2 6.3 5.6 5.7 5.6 6.8 7.8 6.0
15,000–19,999 20.7 21.7 19.9 17.6 20.3 15.9 16.7 18.4 15.3 17.3 21.5 14.1
20,000–24,999 17.8 21.5 15.1 9.7 12.6 7.8 14.9 16.3 13.7 12.0 13.9 10.6
25,000 or more 22.7 26.8 19.6 12.3 16.2 9.7 20.1 22.2 18.4 12.0 11.8 12.1
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 17,477 19,354 15,600 13,157 14,664 11,964 15,480 16,757 14,357 13,282 14,477 12,389
Number (thousands) 29,445 12,726 16,719 2,702 1,061 1,642 907 397 510 2,113 925 1,188
 
Family Social Security Income of Persons 65 or Older Table 5.B5 Percentage distribution of persons in Social Security beneficiary families, by quintile of per-capita total family money income, 2008
Family Social Security benefits (dollars) Total First Second Third Fourth Fifth
All persons in beneficiary families
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0.2 0 0 0 0
500–999 0.2 0.5 0 0.1 0.2 0.1
1,000–1,499 0.2 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4
1,500–1,999 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4
2,000–2,499 0.4 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.7 0.6
2,500–2,999 0.4 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.2
3,000–3,499 0.4 0.7 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.6
3,500–3,999 0.5 1.1 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
4,000–4,499 0.5 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3
4,500–4,999 0.7 1.7 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.7
5,000–5,999 1.5 4.2 0.7 0.7 1.0 1.3
6,000–6,999 1.6 4.5 0.8 0.7 1.2 1.3
7,000–7,999 2.6 6.4 1.9 1.6 1.9 1.5
8,000–8,999 3.3 9.3 2.5 2.1 1.5 1.7
9,000–9,999 3.7 9.5 3.0 2.2 2.2 2.2
10,000–10,999 4.5 10.4 3.2 3.5 2.9 3.1
11,000–11,999 4.7 4.4 8.7 3.7 3.4 3.0
12,000–12,999 3.9 2.6 7.1 3.2 4.0 2.3
13,000–13,999 6.1 4.2 9.1 6.6 5.5 4.7
14,000–14,999 5.3 5.0 7.3 4.9 4.9 4.3
15,000–19,999 20.4 19.6 14.6 24.5 21.2 21.9
20,000–24,999 17.1 9.9 24.3 18.1 18.0 13.8
25,000 or more 21.7 1.8 14.9 26.0 29.2 35.2
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 16,800 10,757 15,557 18,317 19,157 19,493
Number (thousands) 33,512 6,026 7,098 7,079 6,817 6,492
NOTE: Per-capita family total money income quintile limits are $11,057, $16,072, $23,357, and $37,605.
Family Social Security Income of Persons 65 or Older Table 5.B6 Percentage distribution of persons in Social Security beneficiary families, by number of persons in family and quintile of per-capita total family money income, 2008
Family Social Security benefits (dollars) Total First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Persons in 1-person beneficiary families
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0.1 0.5 0 0 0 0
500–999 0.2 0.7 0 0.2 0.1 0
1,000–1,499 0.4 1.1 0.1 0.2 0 0.8
1,500–1,999 0.3 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2
2,000–2,499 0.8 1.0 0.4 0.2 1.0 1.4
2,500–2,999 0.4 1.1 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.1
3,000–3,499 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.6 0.9 0.4
3,500–3,999 0.8 2.2 0.7 0.1 0.4 0.7
4,000–4,499 0.8 2.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.5
4,500–4,999 1.1 3.0 0.5 0.4 0.5 1.1
5,000–5,999 2.2 7.2 1.0 1.0 1.3 0.8
6,000–6,999 2.5 8.8 1.1 0.8 1.1 1.3
7,000–7,999 4.4 14.0 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2
8,000–8,999 5.6 18.0 3.4 3.0 2.2 1.8
9,000–9,999 6.6 18.0 4.9 3.3 3.9 3.4
10,000–10,999 7.8 19.1 6.2 5.9 3.7 4.3
11,000–11,999 8.3 0.6 20.0 6.7 6.0 4.7
12,000–12,999 7.1 0.1 16.4 5.4 7.3 3.5
13,000–13,999 10.6 0.1 19.2 12.2 9.1 9.4
14,000–14,999 7.3 0.1 12.9 7.8 8.0 5.9
15,000–19,999 24.3 0.1 10.4 44.1 34.3 36.1
20,000–24,999 5.5 0 0 5.1 12.1 12.6
25,000 or more 2.3 0 0 0 4.4 8.7
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 13,000 8,357 12,449 14,957 15,000 15,557
Number (thousands) 11,061 2,094 2,702 2,312 2,113 1,839
Persons in 2-person beneficiary families
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0 0 0 0 0
500–999 0.2 0.4 0 0.1 0.2 0.1
1,000–1,499 0.1 0.2 0.1 0 0 0.1
1,500–1,999 0.1 0.2 0 0 0 0.5
2,000–2,499 0.2 0.5 0 0 0.4 0.2
2,500–2,999 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.4
3,000–3,499 0.3 0.4 0 0.3 0.1 0.6
3,500–3,999 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.3
4,000–4,499 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1
4,500–4,999 0.5 1.1 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.4
5,000–5,999 1.0 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.6
6,000–6,999 1.1 2.4 0.3 0.4 1.2 1.4
7,000–7,999 1.4 1.7 1.5 1.0 1.9 1.0
8,000–8,999 1.8 3.9 1.8 1.3 1.3 1.5
9,000–9,999 1.9 4.7 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.6
10,000–10,999 2.5 5.6 1.0 2.0 1.8 2.6
11,000–11,999 2.6 6.5 1.5 2.1 2.0 1.8
12,000–12,999 2.2 4.2 1.3 1.8 2.4 1.9
13,000–13,999 3.5 6.4 2.5 3.5 3.4 2.6
14,000–14,999 4.2 8.5 3.5 3.6 2.7 3.7
15,000–19,999 18.7 34.3 17.2 14.9 15.2 15.7
20,000–24,999 24.3 14.9 43.5 25.9 22.0 14.6
25,000 or more 32.6 0.2 23.2 40.3 42.4 47.3
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 21,500 14,914 22,314 23,014 23,710 23,914
Number (thousands) 18,046 2,855 3,591 3,700 3,771 4,130
Persons in families of 3 or more
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0.2 0 0 0 0
500–999 0.1 0.3 0.1 0 0.3 0
1,000–1,499 0.4 0.5 0 0.6 0.3 0.5
1,500–1,999 0.1 0 0 0.3 0 0.1
2,000–2,499 0.4 0.2 0 0.1 1.1 0.4
2,500–2,999 0.5 0.9 0.7 0.1 0.8 0
3,000–3,499 0.6 1.0 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.9
3,500–3,999 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.4
4,000–4,499 0.9 1.7 0.7 0.4 0.5 1.0
4,500–4,999 0.7 0.9 0.4 0.6 0.3 1.5
5,000–5,999 2.0 3.6 1.6 1.3 1.9 0.4
6,000–6,999 1.5 2.0 1.9 1.3 1.1 1.2
7,000–7,999 2.8 4.5 2.0 2.3 1.9 3.2
8,000–8,999 3.5 6.9 2.9 3.1 1.0 3.0
9,000–9,999 3.6 5.6 3.7 3.3 2.1 2.3
10,000–10,999 4.4 6.2 3.4 3.6 5.4 2.3
11,000–11,999 4.4 6.1 3.2 3.1 3.5 7.2
12,000–12,999 2.8 3.2 2.2 3.4 3.2 1.1
13,000–13,999 5.5 6.3 5.1 5.1 5.9 4.6
14,000–14,999 4.9 5.1 5.4 3.0 6.8 3.9
15,000–19,999 17.2 18.5 17.4 15.3 16.0 20.8
20,000–24,999 16.8 16.2 20.0 19.1 15.0 11.9
25,000 or more 26.1 9.5 28.1 33.0 31.7 33.1
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 17,914 13,745 19,313 20,693 19,114 18,540
Number (thousands) 4,405 1,077 805 1,067 933 524
NOTE: Per-capita family total money income quintile limits are $11,057, $16,072, $23,357, and $37,605.
Family Social Security Income of Persons 65 or Older Table 5.B7 Percentage distribution of persons in Social Security beneficiary families, by proportion of family income from Social Security and sex, 2008
Family Social Security benefits (dollars) Proportion of family income from Social Security
Less than 50 percent 50–89 percent 90–99 percent 100 percent
All persons Men Women All persons Men Women All persons Men Women All persons Men Women
Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1–499 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.4 0
500–999 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0 0.2 0 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.1
1,000–1,499 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 0.1 0.2 0.1
1,500–1,999 0.4 0.5 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0 0.2
2,000–2,499 0.9 0.8 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 0.1 0.3
2,500–2,999 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.3
3,000–3,499 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.1 0 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2 0 0.3
3,500–3,999 0.9 0.6 1.1 0 0 0 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.5 0.8
4,000–4,499 0.9 0.6 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3
4,500–4,999 1.0 0.7 1.3 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.3 0 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.7
5,000–5,999 2.1 1.5 2.6 0.9 0.2 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.7 1.5 0.9 1.7
6,000–6,999 1.9 1.5 2.3 1.0 0.6 1.3 0.7 0.5 0.9 2.5 2.0 2.7
7,000–7,999 3.1 2.4 3.7 1.7 1.0 2.1 1.8 0.4 2.7 3.3 2.3 3.9
8,000–8,999 3.3 2.7 3.9 2.3 1.6 2.8 2.6 1.6 3.1 5.5 3.1 6.8
9,000–9,999 3.6 2.6 4.4 2.8 2.0 3.5 3.8 2.4 4.6 5.5 4.6 6.0
10,000–10,999 4.4 3.5 5.3 2.9 1.7 3.7 4.6 3.0 5.6 7.8 7.1 8.2
11,000–11,999 4.3 3.9 4.6 4.1 2.7 5.1 4.3 1.6 5.9 7.5 6.4 8.1
12,000–12,999 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.2 2.0 4.1 4.6 3.5 5.3 5.3 4.3 5.9
13,000–13,999 6.0 5.3 6.7 5.4 3.5 6.8 6.3 4.5 7.3 7.5 6.3 8.1
14,000–14,999 5.4 5.3 5.4 4.3 3.3 4.9 6.5 5.2 7.2 6.5 6.9 6.3
15,000–19,999 20.2 22.0 18.6 21.1 21.6 20.7 21.5 20.9 21.8 19.0 21.0 18.0
20,000–24,999 14.7 17.3 12.3 20.8 24.8 17.8 21.7 29.1 17.2 13.8 17.6 11.8
25,000 or more 21.2 23.5 19.1 28.6 34.5 24.2 19.9 25.6 16.5 11.7 15.6 9.5
Median family Social Security benefits (dollars) 16,157 17,645 14,993 19,714 21,737 17,957 17,957 20,686 16,000 14,285 15,826 13,157
Number (thousands) 15,028 7,093 7,935 9,708 4,126 5,582 3,427 1,283 2,144 5,120 1,775 3,345
NOTE: Persons in families with zero total income or with negative total income, earnings, or income from assets are excluded.