Children Receiving SSI, December 2003

Table 2. Number and percentage distribution of SSI applications received, by age, 1973–2003
Year All ages a Under 18 18–64 65 or older
Number Percentage
of total		 Number Percentage
of total		 Number Percentage
of total
Total 52,112,230 7,164,790 13.7 35,536,950 68.2 9,410,490 18.1
State conversions b 3,406,600 3,650 0.1 1,424,010 41.8 1,978,940 58.1
Federal applications
1973 284,930 5,030 1.8 82,820 29.1 197,080 69.2
1974 2,060,590 124,300 6.0 1,096,130 53.2 840,160 40.8
1975 1,467,960 100,030 6.8 976,840 66.5 391,090 26.6
1976 1,212,810 84,360 7.0 866,720 71.5 261,730 21.6
1977 1,272,360 95,610 7.5 904,150 71.1 272,600 21.4
1978 1,268,170 99,460 7.8 905,340 71.4 263,370 20.8
1979 1,325,270 108,000 8.1 950,980 71.8 266,290 20.1
1980 1,410,080 113,200 8.0 1,016,750 72.1 280,130 19.9
1981 1,149,290 95,010 8.3 863,670 75.1 190,610 16.6
1982 1,016,080 94,680 9.3 775,240 76.3 146,160 14.4
1983 1,132,220 101,560 9.0 832,540 73.5 198,120 17.5
1984 1,264,480 104,860 8.3 866,420 68.5 293,200 23.2
1985 1,401,400 120,640 8.6 1,047,930 74.8 232,830 16.6
1986 1,465,970 125,270 8.5 1,099,220 75.0 241,480 16.5
1987 1,433,340 124,910 8.7 1,068,890 74.6 239,540 16.7
1988 1,360,870 125,280 9.2 1,008,200 74.1 227,390 16.7
1989 1,392,660 132,080 9.5 1,016,430 73.0 244,150 17.5
1990 1,550,990 163,610 10.5 1,136,160 73.3 251,220 16.2
1991 1,808,690 247,460 13.7 1,315,160 72.7 246,070 13.6
1992 2,086,820 380,350 18.2 1,460,520 70.0 245,950 11.8
1993 2,308,770 503,800 21.8 1,567,730 67.9 237,240 10.3
1994 2,256,640 541,150 24.0 1,512,310 67.0 203,180 9.0
1995 2,062,590 502,940 24.4 1,380,090 66.9 179,560 8.7
1996 1,915,520 462,710 24.2 1,285,630 67.1 167,180 8.7
1997 1,594,630 332,940 20.9 1,130,410 70.9 131,280 8.2
1998 1,626,210 337,300 20.7 1,141,180 70.2 147,730 9.1
1999 1,658,400 350,070 21.1 1,148,740 69.3 159,590 9.6
2000 1,742,630 358,800 20.6 1,224,540 70.3 159,290 9.1
2001 1,859,990 376,170 20.2 1,323,020 71.1 160,800 8.6
2002 2,084,730 413,330 19.8 1,492,740 71.6 178,660 8.6
2003 2,230,540 436,230 19.6 1,616,440 72.5 177,870 8.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Extract Record format), 10 percent sample.
a. Totals include applications taken under the abbreviated application process, which was used from 1987 to 1999. Totals do not include reapplications as a result of the Sullivan v. Zebley decision. Those reapplications were received from 1991 to 1995.
b. Persons who were converted in 1973 from the state Old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled programs to the SSI program.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.children@ssa.gov.