Statistical Publications Glossary
This glossary consolidates and expands upon previously independent glossaries from the Annual Statistical Supplement, the Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, and the SSI Annual Statistical Report. While written to aid researchers and analysts in understanding common terms across recently published Social Security Administration (SSA) statistical publications, it may also be useful for anyone generally interested in Social Security programs, research, and statistics.
These terms and definitions are specific to recent SSA statistical publications and may differ from those found in other resources, such as:
- Social Security Online Glossary (general program terms)
- Glossary from the 2025 Trustees Report (specific to SSA actuarial publications)
- Glossary from The Red Book (specific to work incentives and employment supports)
- SSA statistical publications released before December 2025 (specific to archival statistics; found in publication-specific table notes, book-level notes, and some glossaries)
Because individual terms or definitions may be program specific as well, we indicate program relationships with these tags:
- Social Security (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI))
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) SSI
- Both Social Security and SSI
Always refer to each statistical publication's Notes section(s) for edition-specific definitions and clarifications.
Note that the definitions in this glossary are simplified. None of the definitions here take precedence over laws, legislation, regulations, contracts, or specific interpretations or rulings. To request changes or additions, email statistics@ssa.gov.
A note about Social Security benefit and beneficiary types: Across our statistical publications, Social Security beneficiary-type category names reflect Social Security Act language. Although some are unambiguous, please note the following clarifications:
- Unless otherwise specified, the “wives,” “husbands,” and “spouses” categories include divorced ex-spouses, who may qualify for benefits if the marriage lasted 10 or more years.
- The “widow(er)s,” “nondisabled widow(er)s,” and “disabled widow(er)s” categories likewise include qualifying surviving divorced ex-spouses.
- “Widowed mothers and fathers” are entitled to benefits because they care for a deceased worker's child (if the child is younger than 16 or disabled), whereas “parents” are entitled because they are the dependent survivors of a deceased worker.
- Unless otherwise specified, the “widowed mothers and fathers” category includes surviving divorced ex-spouses caring for the deceased worker's child.
- “Children” refers to the offspring of beneficiaries or deceased workers; it does not necessarily mean minors. (Children's benefits may be paid to students aged 18–19 or to disabled adult children as well as to minors.)
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