Getting Your Financial Ducks In A Row Rotating Header Image

Social Security by the Numbers

mixed numbers by Pink Sherbet PhotographyHere are some Social Security numbers I recently ran across that I found interesting.  The figures are from the current information available as of October, 2010:

The average retired worker receives $1,172 in monthly Social Security retirement benefits, and the average couple receives $1,892.  The average disabled worker receives $1,066 in Social Security disability benefits each month, and this amount increases to $1,803 for a disabled worker with a spouse and child.

The average widow or widower receives a total of $1,106 in Social Security survivor benefits per month, whereas a younger widow or widower with two children receives an average monthly benefit of $2,391.

Each month, over 34 million people receive Social Security retirement benefits, and over 4 million are receiving survivor’s benefits as a widow or widower.  Over 8 million people are receiving disability benefits from the Social Security system each month, as well.

Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography

2 Comments

  1. Considering that the US working age population is 237 million, based on your number listed above it look like approximately 19.4% of the country is being supported by the other 80% that are working.

    To be honest, this number seems a little high.

    1. jblankenship says:

      Well, I didn’t actually count them all myself, this is from SSA data. Keep your grain of salt handy when interpreting the numbers, I’d say.

      jb

Get involved!