Monthly Statistical Snapshot, October 2012

(released November 2012)
  • Table 1. Number of people receiving Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or both, October 2012
  • Table 2. Social Security benefits, October 2012
  • Table 3. Supplemental Security Income recipients, October 2012

For detailed annual and time series program data, see our Annual Statistical Supplement.
For more detailed monthly OASDI information, visit the Actuary's website for Beneficiary Data.
For more detailed monthly SSI information, see SSI Monthly Statistics.

Table 1. Number of people receiving Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or both, October 2012 (in thousands)
Type of beneficiary Total Social Security only SSI only Both Social Security and SSI
All beneficiaries 62,067 53,790 5,490 2,788
Aged 65 or older 40,372 38,288 911 1,172
Disabled, under age 65 a 14,072 7,878 4,579 1,615
Other b 7,624 7,624 . . . . . .
SOURCES: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data. Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are for the end of the specified month. Only Social Security beneficiaries in current-payment status are included.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Includes children receiving SSI on the basis of their own disability.
b. Social Security beneficiaries who are neither aged nor disabled (for example, early retirees, young survivors).
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 2. Social Security benefits, October 2012
Type of beneficiary Beneficiaries Total monthly benefits (millions of dollars) Average monthly benefit (dollars)
Number (thousands) Percent
All beneficiaries 56,577 100.0 64,007 1,131.32
Old-Age Insurance
Retired workers 36,593 64.7 45,275 1,237.28
Spouses 2,285 4.0 1,402 613.33
Children 605 1.1 366 605.30
Survivors Insurance
Widow(er)s and parents a 4,212 7.4 4,900 1,163.36
Widowed mothers and fathers b 154 0.3 137 887.45
Children 1,886 3.3 1,479 784.40
Disability Insurance
Disabled workers 8,802 15.6 9,780 1,111.09
Spouses 164 0.3 49 298.95
Children 1,876 3.3 619 329.96
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Data are for the end of the specified month. Only beneficiaries in current-payment status are included.
a. Includes nondisabled widow(er)s aged 60 or older, disabled widow(er)s aged 50 or older, and dependent parents of deceased workers aged 62 or older.
b. A widow(er) or surviving divorced parent caring for the entitled child of a deceased worker who is under age 16 or is disabled.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 3. Supplemental Security Income recipients, October 2012
Age Recipients Total payments a (millions of dollars) Average monthly payment b (dollars)
Number (thousands) Percent
All recipients 8,278 100.0 4,564 516.40
Under 18 1,310 15.8 845 614.70
18–64 4,884 59.0 2,851 533.20
65 or older 2,084 25.2 868 415.20
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record, 100 percent data.
NOTE: Data are for the end of the specified month.
a. Includes retroactive payments.
b. Excludes retroactive payments.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.