Since 1956, the Social Security program has provided cash benefits to people with disabilities. This annual report provides program and demographic information about the people who receive those benefits. The basic topics covered are—
- beneficiaries in current-payment status;
- workers’ compensation and public disability benefits;
- benefits awarded, withheld, and terminated;
- disabled workers who have returned to work;
- outcomes of applications for disability benefits; and
- disabled beneficiaries receiving Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or both.
Profile of Disabled-Worker Beneficiaries
- Workers accounted for the largest share of disabled beneficiaries (87 percent).
- Average age was 54.
- Men represented less than 52 percent.
- The largest category of diagnoses was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (32.3 percent).
- Average monthly benefit received was $1,171.15.
- Supplemental Security Income payments were another source of income for about one out of eight.
- Awards to disabled workers (706,448) accounted for 88 percent of awards to all disabled beneficiaries (799,330).
- Benefits were terminated for 820,372 disabled workers.
Read more and download the full report here.
Photo credit: Fabricator of Useless Articles via Foter.com / CC BY
