Hispanics, Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income

by Patricia P. Martin
Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 67, No. 2, 2007
Table equivalent for the first panel of Chart 1. Growth of U.S. Hispanics and the total U.S. population: Historical and projected, 1930–2050
Year Growth
(in millions)
Actual a
1930 1.3
1940 1.6
1950 2.3
1960 3.5
1970 9.1
1980 14.6
1990 22.4
Estimated
2000 35.6
2005 42.7
Projected
2010 47.8
2020 59.8
2030 73.1
2040 87.6
2050 102.6
SOURCE: Actual data (1930–1990) are from Census Bureau (1993). Estimates (2000 and 2005) are from Census Bureau (2006b, Table 4). Projections (2010–2050) are from Census Bureau (2004, Table 1a).
a. Data for 1930 include only "Mexicans," data for 1940 include persons of "Spanish mother tongue," and data for 1950 and 1960 include persons of "Spanish surname." Data for Hispanic origin of any race was not collected in 1950 and 1960 by the U.S. Census.
Table equivalent for second panel of Chart 1. Growth of U.S. Hispanics and the total U.S. population: 1980–2005 (in percent)
Years U.S.
Hispanics		 Total U.S.
Population
1980–1990 53 10
1990–2000 59 13
2000–2005 20 5
 
Table equivalent for Chart 2. Origin of U.S. Hispanics, 2005
Origin Percent
Region of origin
Caribbean
Puerto Rico 9.8
Other 6.7
Central America
Mexico 69.3
Other 7.7
South America 5.6
Europe 0.9
Top five countries of origin
Mexico 69.3
Puerto Rico 9.8
Cuba 3.8
El Salvador 3.2
Dominican Republic 2.9
SOURCE: 2005 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample.
Table equivalent for Chart 3. Characteristics of U.S. Hispanics and the total U.S. population, 2005 (in percent)
Characteristic U.S.
Hispanics		 Total U.S.
population
Age
Under 15 29.5 21
Under 25 45.9 34.5
62 or older 6.5 14.7
Education
No high school diploma 40.5 12.3
Bachelor's degree or higher 15.8 27.2
SOURCE: 2005 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. See also Table 2 in this article.
Table equivalent for Chart 4. Poverty among U.S. Hispanics and the total U.S. population, 2005 (in percent)
Status/age U.S. Hispanics Total U.S. population
Poverty status
Below 100% of poverty 22.6 13.4
Below 150% of poverty 38.0 22.2
Percentage below 100 percent of poverty, by age
Under 16 30.0 19.0
Under 25 54.5 39.6
65 or older 20.3 9.9
SOURCE: 2005 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. See also Table 2 in this article.
NOTE: The Census Bureau does not measure poverty status for unrelated individuals younger than age 15.
Table equivalent for Chart 5. Characteristics of U.S. Hispanics and those receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, 2005 (in percent)
Status Hispanic Social
Security beneficiaries		 Hispanic SSI
recipients		 All U.S.
Hispanics
Age
15–24 3.1 6.1 23.3
25–61 18.4 50.7 67.4
62 or older 78.4 43.2 9.2
Origin
Mexico 52.2 46.3 61.8
Puerto Rico 14.2 24.1 9.2
Cuba 10.4 7.6 4.1
Dominican Republic 2.3 5.4 2.8
Central America 3.8 4.1 8.0
South America 4.7 3.4 6.0
Spain 1.7 0.9 1.0
Other 10.7 8.2 7.1
Education
No hich school diploma 56.5 66.7 40.5
Bachelor's degree or higher 7.2 2.9 12.3
Poverty status
Below 100% of poverty 20.3 43.2 19.5
Below 150% of poverty 38.2 63.4 34.0
SOURCE: 2005 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. See also Table 4 in this article.
Table equivalent for Chart 6. Hispanic Social Security beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries below 100 percent of the poverty level, by region and country of origin, 2005 (in percent)
Region and country of origin Beneficiaries Nonbeneficiaries
Caribbean
Puerto Rican 29 22
Dominican 37 24
Cuban 22 14
Central American
Mexico 18 21
Salvadorian 16 15
Other 19 16
South American
Columbian 18 11
Ecuadorian 16 12
Other 16 12
European
Spaniard 11 11
Other
Other Hispanic 17 17
SOURCE: 2005 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. See also Table 5 in this article.
Table equivalent for Chart 7. Poverty status and education of Hispanic Social Security beneficiaries and all beneficiaries, 2005 (in percent)
Status Hispanic
Social
Security
beneficiaries		 All
beneficiaries
Poverty status
Below 100% of poverty 20.3 10.7
Below 150% of poverty 38.2 23.3
Education
No high school diploma 26.3 56.5
High school graduate only 35.2 23.1
Bachelor's degree or higher 17.1 7.2
SOURCE: 2005 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. See also Table 7 in this article.
Table equivalent for Chart 8. Poverty status and education of Hispanic Supplemental Security Income recipients and all recipients aged 15 or older, 2005 (in percent)
Status Hispanic
Social
Security
beneficiaries		 All
beneficiaries
Poverty status
Below 100% of poverty 43.2 40.7
Below 150% of poverty 63.4 59.0
Education
No high school diploma 66.7 45.4
High school graduate only 20.2 30.7
Bachelor's degree or higher 2.9 6.6
SOURCE: 2005 American Community Survey, Public Use Microdata Sample. See also Table 8 in this article.