Annual Statistical Supplement, 2009

Highlights and Trends

Social Security (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance)

Employment and Earnings

Workers in OASDI covered employment, 2008 162.3 million
Average earnings, 2008 $39,950
Earnings required in 2009 for—
1 quarter of coverage $1,090
Maximum of 4 quarters of coverage $4,360
Earnings test exempt amounts for 2009
Under full retirement age for entire year $14,160
For months before reaching full retirement age in 2009 $37,680
Beginning with month of reaching full retirement age in 2009 Test eliminated

Program Data

Cost-of-living adjustment for December 2008 5.8 percent
Average monthly benefit, December 2008
Retired workers $1,153
Widows and widowers, nondisabled $1,112
Disabled workers $1,063
Number of beneficiaries, December 2008
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance 50.9 million
Old-Age Insurance
Total 35.2 million
Retired workers 32.3 million
Survivors Insurance
Total 6.5 million
Widows and widowers, nondisabled 4.2 million
Disability Insurance
Total 9.3 million
Disabled workers 7.4 million
Benefit payments, 2008
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance $615.4 billion
Old-Age and Survivors Insurance $509.1 billion
Disability Insurance $106.3 billion
Administrative expenses, 2008
Old-Age and Survivors Insurance
Amount $3.2 billion
As a percentage of total benefits paid 0.6 percent
Disability Insurance
Amount $2.5 billion
As a percentage of total benefits paid 2.4 percent

Program Trends

Supplemental Security Income

Annual Payment Adjustments

Monthly federal benefit rate, effective January 2009
Individual living in his or her own household $674
Couple with both members eligible $1,011
Cost-of-living adjustment 5.8 percent

Program Data

Federally administered payments
Benefits paid in 2008 $43.0 billion
Number of recipients, December 2008 7.5 million
Average benefit, December 2008 $477.79
Federal SSI payments
Benefits paid in 2008 $38.7 billion
Number of recipients, December 2008 7.2 million
Average benefit, December 2008 $447.00
Federally administered state supplementation
Benefits paid in 2008 $4.4 billion
Number of recipients, December 2008 2.3 million a
Average benefit, December 2008 $156.23
a. Includes 2.0 million persons receiving federal SSI and state supplementation and 0.3 million persons receiving state supplementation only.

Program Trends

Health Care

Medicare

Total benefits paid in calendar year 2008
Hospital Insurance (Part A) $232.3 billion
Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) $229.3 billion
Number of enrollees in July 2008 (one or both of Parts A and B) 45.4 million
Aged 37.9 million
Disabled 7.5 million
Administrative costs, 2008
Hospital Insurance
Amount $3.3 billion
As a percentage of total benefits paid 1.5 percent
Supplementary Medical Insurance
Amount $3.3 billion
As a percentage of total benefits paid 1.4 percent

Medicaid

Medical service expenditures in fiscal year 2007 $276.5 billion
Number of unduplicated recipients, fiscal year 2007 56.8 million
Average 2007 vendor payment per unduplicated recipient
Persons aged 65 or older $14,187
Permanently and totally disabled persons $14,200
Dependent children under age 21 $1,797
Average 2007 vendor payment for medical services
Nursing facility services $28,368
Inpatient general hospital care $7,197
Prescribed drugs $932
Physicians services $456

Other Social Insurance Programs and Veterans' Benefits

Unemployment Insurance

Total payments, 2008 $42.7 billion
Average—
Weekly benefit amount (regular programs) $297.10
Duration of benefits 14.9 weeks
Weekly insured unemployment 3.3 million
Covered employment 132.8 million

Workers' Compensation

Benefit payments, 2007 $55.5 billion
Compensation payments $27.2 billion
Medical and hospitalization $28.3 billion
Benefits paid by—
Private insurance carriers $28.4 billion
State and federal funds $13.7 billion
Employers' self-insurance $13.3 billion
Covered workers per month 131.7 million
Costs as a percentage of covered payroll 1.45 percent

Temporary Disability Insurance

Average weekly benefit, 2006
California
State fund $386
Private plans $592
New York
Private plans $188
NOTE: Programs in effect in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, and the railroad industry.

Black Lung Benefits

Basic benefit to miner or widow $599
Maximum family benefit $1,197
Part B (claims filed before July 1, 1973)
Number of monthly benefits to miners, widows, and dependents, December 2008 32,411
Total benefits paid, calendar year 2008 $255.9 million
Part C (claims filed July 1, 1973, or later)
Total benefits paid, fiscal year 2008
Disability and survivors benefits $270.4 million
Medical benefits $36.8 million

Veterans' Benefits

Number of veterans with disability compensation or pension, 2008
Service-connected disability 2,952,000
Nonservice-connected disability 318,000
Monthly payment in 2009 for—
Service-connected disability
10 percent disability $123
Total disability $2,673
Nonservice-connected disability (maximum payment)
Without dependent $986
With one dependent and in need of aid and attendance $1,950

Poverty Data

Weighted average poverty thresholds, 2008
Individual, aged 65 or older $10,326
Couple, householder aged 65 or older $13,030
Family of four $22,025
Percentage of population with income below poverty level, 2007
All ages 12.5 percent
Children under age 18 living in families 17.6 percent
Persons aged 65 or older 9.7 percent