Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2009
Source of income | 1962 | 2007 |
---|---|---|
Social Security | 69 | 87 |
Asset income | 54 | 52 |
Private pensions | 9 | 28 |
Government employee pensions | 9 | 13 |
Earnings | 36 | 25 |
SOURCES: Data for 1962 are from Social Security Administration, The Aged Population of the United States: The 1963 Social Security Survey of the Aged (1967). Data for 2007 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey. | ||
NOTE: An aged unit is a married couple living together or a nonmarried person, which also includes persons who are separated or married but not living together. |
Income source | 1962 | 2007 |
---|---|---|
Social Security | 30 | 36 |
Earnings | 28 | 29 |
Asset income | 15 | 16 |
Private pensions | 3 | 9 |
Government employee pensions | 6 | 8 |
Other | 16 | 3 |
SOURCES: Data for 1962 are from Social Security Administration, The Aged Population of the United States: The 1963 Social Security Survey of the Aged (1967). Data for 2007 are Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey. | ||
NOTES: The unit of analysis is the aged unit, defined as a married couple living together or a nonmarried person, which also includes persons who are separated or married but not living together. | ||
Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components. |
Characteristic | Percent poor |
Percent near poor |
---|---|---|
All persons | 9.7 | 6.4 |
By marital status | ||
Married | 4.2 | 3.6 |
Nonmarried men | 12.2 | 8.3 |
Nonmarried women | 17.6 | 10.4 |
By race and Hispanic origin | ||
White alone a | 8.1 | 6.1 |
Black alone a | 23.2 | 9.7 |
Hispanic | 17.1 | 11.0 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration calculations from the March 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey. | ||
a. Current Population Survey respondents may identify themselves in more than one racial group. The "white alone" and "black alone" categories reflect respondents who reported only one race. |
Sex | 1970 | 2008 |
---|---|---|
Fully insured | ||
Men | 92 | 91 |
Women | 63 | 84 |
Insured for disability a | ||
Men | 85 | 82 |
Women | 41 | 76 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. | ||
NOTES: The population in the Social Security area includes residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia adjusted for net census undercount; civilian residents of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands; federal civilian employees and persons in the armed forces abroad and their dependents; crew members of merchant vessels; and all other U.S. citizens abroad. | ||
Figures are subject to revision. | ||
a. Insured for disability excludes those over age 64. |
Year | Retired workers |
Disabled workers |
---|---|---|
1968 | 1200.00 | 323.00 |
1969 | 1272.78 | 344.74 |
1970 | 1338.11 | 350.38 |
1971 | 1391.40 | 415.90 |
1972 | 1461.40 | 455.44 |
1973 | 1493.19 | 491.62 |
1974 | 1413.15 | 535.98 |
1975 | 1505.75 | 592.05 |
1976 | 1475.77 | 551.46 |
1977 | 1593.63 | 568.87 |
1978 | 1472.79 | 464.42 |
1979 | 1590.85 | 416.71 |
1980 | 1612.67 | 396.56 |
1981 | 1578.99 | 351.85 |
1982 | 1618.41 | 297.13 |
1983 | 1669.74 | 311.55 |
1984 | 1607.37 | 362.00 |
1985 | 1690.49 | 377.37 |
1986 | 1734.25 | 416.87 |
1987 | 1681.72 | 415.85 |
1988 | 1654.07 | 409.49 |
1989 | 1656.74 | 425.58 |
1990 | 1664.75 | 467.98 |
1991 | 1695.35 | 536.43 |
1992 | 1707.95 | 636.64 |
1993 | 1661.28 | 635.24 |
1994 | 1625.35 | 631.87 |
1995 | 1609.17 | 645.83 |
1996 | 1581.45 | 624.34 |
1997 | 1718.62 | 587.42 |
1998 | 1631.51 | 608.13 |
1999 | 1690.02 | 620.49 |
2000 | 1960.65 | 621.65 |
2001 | 1779.23 | 691.31 |
2002 | 1812.55 | 750.00 |
2003 | 1791.32 | 777.46 |
2004 | 1883.06 | 795.78 |
2005 | 2000.00 | 830.00 |
2006 | 1999.00 | 799.00 |
2007 | 2036.00 | 805.00 |
2008 | 2279.00 | 877.00 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data. |
Year | Disabled workers |
Retired workers |
---|---|---|
1960 | 57.2 | 72.4 |
1965 | 54.7 | 72.5 |
1970 | 54.2 | 72.3 |
1975 | 53.8 | 72.3 |
1980 | 53.2 | 72.4 |
1985 | 52.1 | 72.8 |
1990 | 50.5 | 73.1 |
1995 | 49.8 | 73.6 |
2000 | 50.8 | 73.9 |
2005 | 51.8 | 73.9 |
2006 | 52.1 | 74.0 |
2007 | 52.4 | 74.0 |
2008 | 52.6 | 73.9 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 10 percent sample for 1988 and 1990–2005 and 100 percent data for all other years. |
Type of beneficiary | Men | Women |
---|---|---|
Retired workers | 78 | 59 |
Disabled workers | 19 | 13 |
Spouses of retired or disabled workers | a | 9 |
Widow(er)s and mothers | a | 17 |
Disabled adult children | 2 | 1 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data. | ||
NOTE: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components. | ||
a. Less than 0.5 percent. |
Year | Retired workers |
Disabled workers |
---|---|---|
1940 | 11.6 | -- |
1950 | 17.1 | -- |
1957 | -- | 19.1 |
1960 | 35.3 | 21.8 |
1970 | 42.4 | 28.4 |
1980 | 46.5 | 32.6 |
1990 | 47.7 | 34.7 |
2000 | 48.2 | 43.3 |
2005 | 48.6 | 46.0 |
2006 | 49.0 | 46.0 |
2007 | 49.0 | 47.0 |
2008 | 49.0 | 47.0 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data. | ||
NOTE: -- = not available. |
Year | Total | Under 18 | 18–64 | 65 or older |
---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
1975 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 2.5 |
1976 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
1977 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
1978 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
1979 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.2 |
1980 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.2 |
1981 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
1982 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
1983 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
1984 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
1985 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
1986 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
1987 | 4.4 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
1988 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
1989 | 4.6 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
1990 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
1991 | 5.1 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
1992 | 5.6 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 2.1 |
1993 | 6.0 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 2.1 |
1994 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 2.1 |
1995 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 2.1 |
1996 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 2.1 |
1997 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 2.1 |
1998 | 6.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 2.0 |
1999 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 2.0 |
2000 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 2.0 |
2001 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 2.0 |
2002 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 2.0 |
2003 | 6.9 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 |
2004 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 |
2005 | 7.1 | 1.0 | 4.1 | 2.0 |
2006 | 7.2 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 2.0 |
2007 | 7.4 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 2.0 |
2008 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 4.3 | 2.0 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format), 100 percent data. | ||||
NOTE: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components. |
Year | Under 18 | 18–64 | 65 or older |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | 1.8 | 37.6 | 60.6 |
1975 | 2.5 | 39.4 | 58.1 |
1976 | 3.0 | 40.5 | 56.6 |
1977 | 3.5 | 41.0 | 55.5 |
1978 | 3.9 | 41.4 | 54.6 |
1979 | 4.3 | 41.6 | 54.1 |
1980 | 4.6 | 41.8 | 53.6 |
1981 | 4.8 | 42.4 | 52.8 |
1982 | 5.0 | 42.9 | 52.1 |
1983 | 5.1 | 43.6 | 51.3 |
1984 | 5.3 | 44.2 | 50.6 |
1985 | 5.5 | 45.4 | 49.1 |
1986 | 5.6 | 47.1 | 47.3 |
1987 | 5.7 | 48.3 | 46.0 |
1988 | 5.7 | 49.3 | 44.9 |
1989 | 5.8 | 50.1 | 44.1 |
1990 | 6.4 | 50.9 | 42.7 |
1991 | 7.8 | 51.6 | 40.6 |
1992 | 10.0 | 52.3 | 37.7 |
1993 | 12.1 | 52.6 | 35.3 |
1994 | 13.4 | 53.0 | 33.7 |
1995 | 14.1 | 53.5 | 32.5 |
1996 | 14.4 | 54.0 | 31.6 |
1997 | 13.5 | 54.8 | 31.6 |
1998 | 13.5 | 55.5 | 31.0 |
1999 | 12.9 | 56.3 | 30.8 |
2000 | 12.8 | 56.7 | 30.5 |
2001 | 13.2 | 57.0 | 29.8 |
2002 | 13.5 | 57.1 | 29.4 |
2003 | 13.9 | 57.3 | 28.8 |
2004 | 14.2 | 57.5 | 28.3 |
2005 | 14.6 | 57.4 | 28.0 |
2006 | 14.9 | 57.4 | 27.7 |
2007 | 15.2 | 57.4 | 27.4 |
2008 | 15.3 | 57.6 | 27.0 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format), 100 percent data. | |||
NOTE: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components. |
Age | Men | Women |
---|---|---|
All ages | 44 | 56 |
Under 18 | 66 | 34 |
18–64 | 44 | 56 |
65 or older | 32 | 68 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format), 100 percent data. |
Age | OASDI | Other unearned income |
Earnings |
---|---|---|---|
All ages | 34.7 | 11.1 | 3.6 |
Under 18 | 7.2 | 19.5 | 0.2 |
18–64 | 31.7 | 7.6 | 5.6 |
65 or older | 56.8 | 13.7 | 1.4 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format), 100 percent data. |
Type of beneficiary | Number (thousands) |
Average monthly benefit (dollars) |
---|---|---|
Children of retired workers | 303 | 554 |
Children of disabled workers | 1,607 | 311 |
Children of deceased workers | 1,350 | 741 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data. |
Year | Number of children receiving SSI (in thousands) |
Average monthly SSI payment (in percent) a |
---|---|---|
1974 | 70.90 | 109.15 |
1975 | 107.03 | 141.09 |
1976 | 125.41 | 154.24 |
1977 | 147.36 | 170.03 |
1978 | 165.90 | 171.72 |
1979 | 177.31 | 193.26 |
1980 | 190.39 | 219.08 |
1981 | 194.89 | 240.84 |
1982 | 191.57 | 263.22 |
1983 | 198.32 | 280.96 |
1984 | 211.59 | 292.86 |
1985 | 227.38 | 301.26 |
1986 | 241.20 | 321.34 |
1987 | 250.90 | 327.27 |
1988 | 255.14 | 343.24 |
1989 | 264.89 | 357.64 |
1990 | 308.59 | 403.72 |
1991 | 397.16 | 446.05 |
1992 | 556.47 | 610.98 |
1993 | 722.68 | 460.54 |
1994 | 841.47 | 448.07 |
1995 | 917.05 | 447.57 |
1996 | 955.17 | 442.01 |
1997 | 879.83 | 433.83 |
1998 | 887.07 | 441.75 |
1999 | 847.06 | 450.13 |
2000 | 846.78 | 463.05 |
2001 | 881.84 | 476.09 |
2002 | 914.82 | 487.73 |
2003 | 959.38 | 490.63 |
2004 | 993.13 | 505.98 |
2005 | 1036.50 | 522.80 |
2006 | 1079.00 | 542.00 |
2007 | 1121.00 | 555.00 |
2008 | 1153.80 | 561.00 |
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Record Extract format), 100 percent data. | ||
NOTE: SSI = Supplemental Security Income. | ||
a. As of 1998, these figures exclude retroactive payments. |