Social Security Disability Insurance at Age 60: Does It Still Reflect Congress' Original Intent?

by Paul O'Leary, Elisa Walker, and Emily Roessel
Issue Paper No. 2015-01 (released September 2015)
Table equivalent for Chart 1. Percentage distribution of DI disabled-worker beneficiaries, by work credits earned between age 21 and DI eligibility a (as a percentage of maximum possible work credits in that period), December 2013
Percentage of possible work credits earned Percent of beneficiaries
100 52.4
90–99 12.8
80–89 10.3
70–79 7.9
60–69 6.2
50–59 4.8
Less than 50 5.8
SOURCE: Authors' calculations based on SSA 2013 Disability Analysis File and 2013 Master Earnings File.
NOTE: Rounded components of percentage distribution do not sum to 100.0.
a. “DI eligibility” is the date on which the beneficiary became eligible for cash benefits; for beneficiaries with multiple spells, it applies only to the current period of eligibility.
Table equivalent for Chart 2. Percentage distribution of DI disabled-worker beneficiaries, by monthly benefit amount, December 2014
Monthly benefit amount (dollars) Percent of beneficiaries
2,400 or more 1.3
2,100–2,399 4.5
1,800–2,099 7.1
1,500–1,799 10.4
1,200–1,499 16.9
900–1,199 25.4
600–899 24.4
Less than 600 9.9
SOURCE: Authors' calculations based on SSA's Master Beneficiary Record.
NOTE: Rounded components of percentage distribution do not sum to 100.0.
Table equivalent for Chart 3. Percentage distribution of DI disabled-worker beneficiaries, by educational attainment based on data from NBS (2010) and SIPP (2013)
Educational attainment NBS (2010) SIPP (2013)
High school not completed (may include special education) 28.0 11.5
High school completion a 36.1 38.9
Postsecondary education, no 4-year degree 27.4 31.7
Postsecondary education, 4-year degree or more 8.5 18.0
SOURCES: Authors' calculations based on 2010 NBS; Bailey and Hemmeter (forthcoming).
NOTE: Rounded components of percentage distributions do not necessarily sum to 100.0.
a. Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalent.