Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2000

Income of Disabled Beneficiaries

Family Income

Notes

The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) is a household survey of the noninstitutionalized resident population of the United States, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The survey was designed to improve the measurement of the economic situation of persons, families, and households in the United States and to provide a tool for managing and evaluating government transfer and service programs.

The 1996 SIPP panel consists of 12 interviews, or waves, each of which gathered 4 months of retrospective data. The sample includes approximately 36,000 households. The SIPP has been matched to SSA administrative records. Receipt of disability benefits is based on December 1998 SSA records, while all other characteristics and income amounts are taken from the SIPP. The estimates are weighted using SIPP sample weights to produce population estimates.

Poverty calculations based on the SIPP use survey-reported family income for 1998. The poverty thresholds also are provided in the SIPP and are adjusted for family size and composition. In 1998, the poverty threshold for a one-person family under age 65 was $8,480. For a four-person family with two related children under the age of 18, the poverty threshold was $16,530.

SIPP and SSA counts of disabled beneficiaries differ because the SIPP excludes people living in institutions or outside the continental United States. And, the match rate between the SIPP and SSA records is not a perfect match. Furthermore, the SIPP estimates are based on a sample and therefore are subject to sampling error. Standard errors can be used to measure this sampling variability. Various sources of nonsampling error also may be important.

Because the SIPP uses a complex sample design, it is inappropriate to calculate standard errors assuming a simple random sample. Doing so will result in estimated standard errors that are biased downward. Rather than attempting to provide tables with approximate SIPP variance estimates, the interested reader is referred to the Source and Accuracy Statement for the 1996 Public Use Files from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, available on the SIPP Internet site at www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/sourceac/s&a96_040501.pdf. The source and accuracy statement provides information on direct calculation of standard errors for SIPP estimates. It also provides detailed instructions for calculating standard errors using generalized variance parameters and simplified tables.

Table 47. Share of family income from Social Security, SSI, and other sources, December 1998
Characteristic Percentage of family income
Social Security Supplemental
Security Income
Earnings Public
assistance
Property
income
Other
Disabled workers
All disabled workers 45.2 7.1 28.3 1.2 2.1 16.1
Sex
Men 45.9 6.2 27.7 1.1 2.3 16.7
Women 44.2 8.3 29.2 1.4 1.7 15.2
Race
White 44.6 6.0 29.2 1.0 2.4 16.8
Black 48.9 10.9 23.7 2.1 0.6 13.8
American Indian, Alaska Native a a a a a a
Asian, Pacific Islander a a a a a a
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic 45.4 6.6 28.4 1.2 2.1 16.3
Hispanic 42.4 14.4 26.5 1.9 2.2 12.6
Age
Under 25 a a a a a a
25-34 32.6 11.2 42.7 2.9 1.7 8.9
35-44 44.5 9.9 31.4 1.2 2.2 10.7
45-54 45.8 6.5 30.5 0.4 1.5 15.2
55 or older 47.8 5.5 22.0 1.6 2.5 20.7
Marital status
Married 35.1 4.1 40.1 0.8 2.2 17.7
Nonmarried 55.9 10.2 15.9 1.7 1.9 14.4
Years of education
Unknown a a a a a a
0-8 56.4 13.0 15.0 1.8 1.1 12.7
9-11 50.8 10.2 21.2 1.2 1.6 15.0
12 41.3 6.3 33.1 1.3 2.0 16.0
13-15 44.4 4.1 30.1 1.3 2.5 17.6
16 or more 38.2 3.9 35.0 0.3 3.3 19.3
Living arrangement
Alone 64.8 11.3 6.0 1.0 1.4 15.4
With others 39.1 5.8 35.3 1.3 2.3 16.3
Disabled adult children
All disabled adult children 51.3 16.0 19.8 2.7 1.9 8.3
Sex
Men 52.4 16.3 18.1 1.8 1.9 9.5
Women 49.7 15.5 22.4 4.1 1.9 6.5
Race
White 53.4 15.0 17.1 1.9 2.4 10.2
Black 45.5 14.1 31.3 5.6 0.5 3.1
American Indian, Alaska Native a a a a a a
Asian, Pacific Islander a a a a a a
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic 52.4 13.6 20.5 3.0 1.9 8.6
Hispanic a a a a a a
Age
Under 25 a a a a a a
25-34 42.4 18.9 27.1 3.6 1.0 6.9
35-44 54.1 16.8 14.1 0.1 2.9 12.1
45-54 a a a a a a
55 or older a a a a a a
Marital status
Married a a a a a a
Nonmarried 51.9 16.2 18.9 2.7 1.9 8.4
Years of education
Unknown a a a a a a
0-8 59.8 21.6 8.5 2.1 0.8 7.2
9-11 a a a a a a
12 45.0 12.2 29.7 2.6 2.0 8.4
13-15 a a a a a a
16 or more a a a a a a
Living arrangement
Alone 62.9 27.9 2.4 0.9 3.1 2.8
With others 48.9 13.6 23.4 3.1 1.7 9.5
SOURCE: 1996 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) matched to SSA administrative records.
NOTES: Individuals receiving disability benefits in December 1998 are identified using SSA administrative data. The unweighted sample size is 1,039 cases for disabled workers and 142 cases for disabled adult children. Disabled widow(er)s are excluded because the unweighted sample size is less than 30 cases, which is deemed too small to support statistically reliable estimates.
a. Sample size is too small to support statistically reliable estimates.
CONTACT: Paul Davies (202) 358-6225 for further information.
Table 48. Poverty status, December 1998
Characteristic Total
number
Under 50%
of poverty
50-99%
of poverty
100-124%
of poverty
125-149%
of poverty
150-199%
of poverty
200-299%
of poverty
300%
or more
of poverty
Disabled workers
All disabled workers 5,158,545 2.5 19.6 7.5 6.9 13.7 19.1 30.9
Sex
Men 3,048,809 2.3 16.7 7.4 7.7 15.1 19.3 31.4
Women 2,109,736 2.6 23.7 7.5 5.6 11.7 18.8 30.1
Race
White 4,099,373 1.7 17.4 7.5 6.0 13.3 20.2 34.0
Black 949,186 4.9 29.0 7.6 10.7 16.4 13.8 17.7
American Indian, Alaska Native 64,114 a a a a a a a
Asian, Pacific Islander 45,872 a a a a a a a
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic 4,852,556 20.2 18.9 7.9 6.6 13.7 19.0 31.8
Hispanic 305,990 7.2 30.0 1.1 10.9 14.1 20.8 15.9
Age
Under 25 28,802 a a a a a a a
25-34 396,442 2.8 22.8 4.2 11.6 19.1 13.3 26.2
35-44 968,478 3.0 21.5 9.6 6.6 18.3 16.8 24.2
45-54 1,607,604 2.9 18.7 8.2 7.1 11.6 18.6 33.0
55 or older 2,157,218 1.8 18.9 6.6 6.0 12.0 21.8 32.8
Marital status
Married 2,647,511 1.4 8.8 3.7 4.9 13.3 24.5 43.6
Nonmarried 2,511,034 3.6 31.0 11.4 9.0 14.1 13.5 17.5
Years of education
Unknown 9,174 a a a a a a a
0-8 642,331 3.7 39.1 8.6 10.8 9.2 15.7 12.9
9-11 916,855 3.4 25.0 10.5 10.2 15.0 16.7 19.3
12 1,863,777 2.9 17.7 6.4 5.7 13.5 20.1 33.8
13-15 1,179,585 0.7 14.6 6.2 5.7 16.8 20.9 35.1
16 or more 546,823 1.8 5.1 7.5 3.0 11.2 20.4 51.2
Disabled adult children
All disabled adult children 772,507 2.9 27.0 6.6 7.7 18.1 23.1 14.6
Sex
Men 468,694 3.1 28.9 5.4 8.2 15.0 23.0 16.3
Women 303,813 2.7 24.2 8.4 6.8 22.9 23.1 11.9
Race
White 568,138 1.2 30.0 5.1 7.1 17.8 22.3 16.6
Black 178,256 9.0 21.6 9.7 10.5 21.8 16.9 10.5
American Indian, Alaska Native 21,300 a a a a a a a
Asian, Pacific Islander 4,814 a a a a a a a
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic 699,444 3.2 27.6 6.0 7.9 19.2 21.9 14.2
Hispanic 73,064 a a a a a a a
Age
Under 25 119,767 a a a a a a a
25-34 219,975 5.4 15.1 7.3 11.8 18.3 31.3 10.9
35-44 220,267 4.8 30.1 6.9 4.7 10.8 23.6 19.0
45-54 94,845 a a a a a a a
55 or older 117,653 a a a a a a a
Marital status
Married 9,632 a a a a a a a
Nonmarried 762,876 3.0 27.4 6.7 7.2 18.4 23.4 14.0
Years of education
Unknown 0 a a a a a a a
0-8 357,303 1.8 38.5 7.7 7.5 14.1 19.7 10.8
9-11 90,879 a a a a a a a
12 266,931 1.5 12.0 6.5 9.7 28.0 30.3 12.0
13-15 35,936 a a a a a a a
16 or more 21,459 a a a a a a a
SOURCE: 1996 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) matched to SSA administrative records.
NOTES: Individuals receiving disability benefits in December 1998 are identified using SSA administrative data. The unweighted sample size is 1,039 cases for disabled workers and 142 cases for disabled adult children. Disabled widow(er)s are excluded because the unweighted sample size is less than 30 cases, which is deemed too small to support statistically reliable estimates.
a. Sample size is too small to support statistically reliable estimates.
CONTACT: Paul Davies (202) 358-6225 for further information.
Table 49. Poverty status before and after Social Security benefits, December 1998
Before Social Security Total number a After Social Security
Under 50%
of poverty
50-99%
of poverty
100-124%
of poverty
125-149%
of poverty
150-199%
of poverty
200-299%
of poverty
300%
or more
of poverty
All disabled beneficiaries
All disabled beneficiaries 6,039,819 2.5 20.7 7.6 7.0 14.1 19.7 28.4
Under 50% of poverty 1,897,044 7.9 55.5 16.2 8.9 8.6 2.9 0
50-99% of poverty 1,017,953 0 19.4 12.2 18.6 34.0 14.7 1.1
100-124% of poverty 345,266 0 0 7.8 15.4 34.8 38.6 3.5
125-149% of poverty 290,581 0 0 0 4.1 36.0 52.6 7.3
150-199% of poverty 608,486 0 0 0 0 19.6 65.7 14.7
200-299% of poverty 718,535 0 0 0 0 0 41.7 58.3
300% or more 1,161,954 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.0
Disabled workers
All disabled workers 5,158,545 2.5 19.6 7.5 6.9 13.7 19.1 30.9
Under 50% of poverty 1,561,630 0 8.1 54.8 17.0 9.1 2.0 0
50-99% of poverty 792,513 0 19.5 11.5 19.4 35.1 14.0 55.0
100-124% of poverty 264,094 0 0 10.2 17.2 31.9 36.3 4.5
125-149% of poverty 260,330 0 0 0 4.5 38.8 51.7 4.9
150-199% of poverty 527,807 0 0 0 0 19.6 63.5 16.9
200-299% of poverty 684,954 0 0 0 0 0 40.7 59.3
300% or more 1,067,217 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.0
Disabled adult children
All disabled adult children 772,507 2.9 27.0 6.6 7.7 18.1 23.1 14.6
Under 50% of poverty 286,868 b b b b b b b
50-99% of poverty 194,700 b b b b b b b
100-124% of poverty 76,689 b b b b b b b
125-149% of poverty 30,251 b b b b b b b
150-199% of poverty 69,856 b b b b b b b
200-299% of poverty 29,653 b b b b b b b
300% or more 84,490 b b b b b b b
SOURCE: 1996 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) matched to SSA administrative records.
NOTES: Individuals receiving disability benefits in December 1998 are identified using SSA administrative data. The unweighted sample size is 1,039 cases for disabled workers and 142 cases for disabled adult children. Disabled widow(er)s are excluded because the unweighted sample size is less than 30 cases, which is deemed too small to support statistically reliable estimates.
a. The total numbers of disabled beneficiaries (overall and by poverty status) are different from the sums of disabled workers and disabled adult children because disabled widow(er)s are not being displayed due to sample size constraints.
b. Sample size is too small to support statistically reliable estimates.
CONTACT: Paul Davies (202) 358-6225 for further information.
Table 50. Aggregate annual poverty gap before and after Social Security benefits, December 1998
Characteristic Before
Social
Security
After
Social
Security
Percentage
reduction
in gap
Disabled workers
All disabled workers 15,968,637,620 12,680,205,394 20.6
Sex
Men 9,417,033,850 7,708,263,306 18.1
Women 6,551,603,769 4,971,942,088 24.1
Race
White 11,691,631,909 9,635,981,739 17.6
Black 3,984,707,440 2,893,967,994 27.4
American Indian, Alaska Native a a a
Asian, Pacific Islander a a a
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic 14,616,844,114 11,853,716,220 18.9
Hispanic 1,351,793,505 826,489,175 38.9
Age
Under 25 a a a
25-34 1,190,305,883 785,698,941 34.0
35-44 3,335,530,815 2,645,509,624 20.7
45-54 5,114,505,949 4,019,184,021 21.4
55 or older 6,310,158,858 5,217,966,672 17.3
Disabled adult children
All disabled adult children 3,062,074,290 2,328,631,655 24.0
Sex
Men 1,986,066,688 1,495,678,723 24.7
Women 1,076,007,603 832,952,932 22.6
Race
White 2,148,987,620 1,695,066,328 21.1
Black 821,590,626 542,069,282 34.0
American Indian, Alaska Native a a a
Asian, Pacific Islander a a a
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic 2,792,885,456 2,147,869,606 23.1
Hispanic a a a
Age
Under 25 a a a
25-34 922,480,489 730,084,671 20.9
35-44 986,961,608 694,549,769 29.6
45-54 a a a
55 or older a a a
SOURCE: 1996 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) matched to SSA administrative records.
NOTES: Individuals receiving disability benefits in December 1998 are identified using SSA administrative data. The unweighted sample size is 1,039 cases for disabled workers and 142 cases for disabled adult children. Disabled widow(er)s are excluded because the unweighted sample size is less than 30 cases, which is deemed too small to support statistically reliable estimates. The aggregate poverty gap is the sum of the shortfall between family income and the poverty threshold. By definition, the shortfall is zero for individuals in families with income greater than the poverty thresholds.
a. Sample size is too small to support statistically reliable estimates.
CONTACT: Paul Davies (202) 358-6225 for further information.