Children Receiving SSI, 2005

Table 1. Number and percentage distribution of recipients of federally administered SSI payments, by age, December 1974–2005
Year All ages Under 18 18–64 a 65 or older
Number Percentage
of total		 Number Percentage
of total		 Number Percentage
of total
1974 3,996,064 70,900 b 1.8 1,503,155 37.6 2,422,009 60.6
1975 4,314,275 107,026 2.5 1,699,394 39.4 2,507,855 58.1
1976 4,235,939 125,412 3.0 1,713,594 40.5 2,396,933 56.6
1977 4,237,692 147,355 3.5 1,736,879 41.0 2,353,458 55.5
1978 4,216,925 165,899 3.9 1,747,126 41.4 2,303,900 54.6
1979 4,149,575 177,306 4.3 1,726,553 41.6 2,245,716 54.1
1980 4,142,017 190,394 4.6 1,730,847 41.8 2,220,776 53.6
1981 4,018,875 194,890 4.8 1,702,895 42.4 2,121,090 52.8
1982 3,857,590 191,570 5.0 1,655,279 42.9 2,010,741 52.1
1983 3,901,497 198,323 5.1 1,699,774 43.6 2,003,400 51.3
1984 4,029,333 211,587 5.3 1,780,459 44.2 2,037,287 50.6
1985 4,138,021 227,384 5.5 1,879,168 45.4 2,031,469 49.1
1986 4,269,184 241,198 5.6 2,010,458 47.1 2,017,528 47.3
1987 4,384,999 250,902 5.7 2,118,710 48.3 2,015,387 46.0
1988 4,463,869 255,135 5.7 2,202,714 49.3 2,006,020 44.9
1989 4,593,059 264,890 5.8 2,301,926 50.1 2,026,243 44.1
1990 4,817,127 308,589 6.4 2,449,897 50.9 2,058,641 42.7
1991 5,118,470 397,162 7.8 2,641,524 51.6 2,079,784 40.6
1992 5,566,189 556,470 10.0 2,910,016 52.3 2,099,703 37.7
1993 5,984,330 722,678 12.1 3,148,413 52.6 2,113,239 35.3
1994 6,295,786 841,474 13.4 3,335,255 53.0 2,119,057 33.7
1995 6,514,134 917,048 14.1 3,482,256 53.5 2,114,830 32.5
1996 6,613,718 955,174 14.4 3,568,393 54.0 2,090,151 31.6
1997 6,494,985 879,828 13.5 3,561,625 54.8 2,053,532 31.6
1998 6,566,069 887,066 13.5 3,646,020 55.5 2,032,983 31.0
1999 6,556,634 847,063 12.9 3,690,994 56.3 2,018,577 30.8
2000 6,601,686 846,784 12.8 3,744,038 56.7 2,010,864 30.5
2001 6,688,489 881,836 13.2 3,811,494 57.0 1,995,159 29.8
2002 6,787,857 914,821 13.5 3,877,752 57.1 1,995,284 29.4
2003 6,902,364 959,379 13.9 3,953,248 57.3 1,989,737 28.8
2004 6,987,845 993,127 14.2 4,017,108 57.5 1,977,610 28.3
2005 7,113,879 1,036,498 14.6 4,082,870 57.4 1,994,511 28.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Extract Record format), 100 percent data.
a. Includes students aged 18 to 21, who are considered children for program purposes.
b. In December 1974, includes children aged 18 to 21.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.children@ssa.gov.