2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium
Section 12: Social Security Administration Program
This section presents statistics on Social Security Administration Programs in the United States. Specifically, these data concern the number of beneficiaries served by, and the amount spent on, Social Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance, by disability status. A table also addresses those who have concurrent benefits (are enrolled in both programs), by disability status. The principal source of this data is the Social Security Administration, specifically the 2020 Annual Statistical Supplement. The 2020 Annual Statistical Supplement provides information about programs administrated by the Social Security Administration. In part, data in the Supplement provide a basis for research and policy recommendations for the programs.
In this section, disability status under Social Security is based on the ability to work. A person is considered disabled if they cannot do the work they did before; cannot adjust to other work because of a medical condition; and disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or result in death. Definitions for aged (65 and older), blindness (statutory blindness), disabled adult child(ren), disabled widow(er) are specific to the Social Security Administration and Social Security Act and can be found on the Social Security Administration website.
Tables
Table 12.1: In December 2020, of the 7,958,721 individuals who received federally administered payments from the Supplemental Security Income program, 1,136,006 were eligible based on being 65 years or older, 67,729 were eligible based on blindness, and 6,754,986 were eligible based on disability status.
Table 12.2: In December 2020, of the $56,277,538 of federally administered payments from the Supplemental Security Income program, $6,138,358 was spent on individuals eligible based on being ages 65 years or older, $481,688 was spent on individuals eligible based on blindness, and $49,657,487 was spent on individuals eligible based on disability status.
Table 12.3: In December 2020, of the 1,108,376 individuals under age 18 who received federally administered payments from the Supplemental Security Income program, 5,744 were eligible based on blindness, and 1,102,632 were eligible based on disability status.
Table 12.4: In December 2020, of the 593,843 individuals who received federally administered payments from Supplemental Security Income program, 129,133 were under age 18, 388,703 were ages 18-64 years, and 76,007 were ages 65 and older.
Table 12.5a: In December 2020, of the 9,351,549 individuals who were beneficiaries under the Social Security Disability Insurance program, 7,995,955 were disabled workers, 232,863 were disabled widow(ers), and 1,122,731 were disabled adult children.
Tables 12.5b–12.5g: In December 2020, of the 9,351,549 individuals who were beneficiaries under the Social Security Disability Insurance program, 322,848 were receiving benefits on the basis of injuries.
Table 12.6: In December 2020, of the $11,366,583 spent on individuals who were beneficiaries under the Social Security Disability Insurance program, $10,233,142 was spent on individuals who were disabled workers, $179,694 was spent on individuals who were disabled widows(ers), and $953,749 was spent on individuals who were disabled adult children.
Table 12.7a: From 2019 to 2020, the total number of recipients of Supplemental Security Income changed by -1.4 percent. The number of total recipients had the greatest positive change in Nebraska (by 0.8 percent) and had the greatest negative change in New York (by -3.1 percent). From 2017 to 2020, the number of aged (65 or older) recipients of Supplemental Security Income changed by -2.6 percent. The number of aged recipients had the greatest positive change in South Dakota (by 0.7 percent) and had the greatest negative change in Mississippi and New York (by -4.9 percent).
Table 12.7b: From 2019 to 2020, the number of blind recipients of Supplemental Security Income changed by -1.5 percent. The number of blind recipients had the greatest positive change in Alaska (by 7.1 percent) and had the greatest negative change in Rhode Island (by -5.8 percent). From 2017 to 2018, the number of disabled recipients of Supplemental Security Income changed by -1.3 percent. The number of disabled recipients had the greatest positive change in Nebraska (by 1.1 percent) and had the greatest negative change in New York (by -2.8 percent).
Table 12.8a: From 2019 to 2020, the total number of recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance changed by -2.3 percent. The total number of beneficiaries had the greatest positive change in Idaho and North Dakota and Wyoming (by -0.7 percent) and had the greatest negative change in the District of Columbia (by -4.8 percent). From 2017 to 2018, the number of disabled workers receiving Social Security Disability Insurance changed by -2.7 percent.
Table 12.8b: From 2019 to 2020, the total number of beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Insurance among disabled adult children changed by 0.9 percent. The total number of beneficiaries among disabled adult children had the greatest positive change in Alaska (by 3.9 percent) and had the least positive change in the District of Columbia (by -2.5 percent). From 2017 to 2020, the number of disabled widow(er)s receiving Social Security Disability Insurance changed by -3.7 percent.
Table 12.9–12.12: The monthly number of Social Security Disability Insurance applicants changed from 154,330 in January of 2003 to 176,326 in October of 2020. The highest number can be found in October of 2010, reporting 293,682 beneficiaries. The lowest number can be found in December 2018, reporting 123,073.