Social Security recently published the National Beneficiary Survey: Disability Statistics, 2015. This publication provides details about who is receiving disability benefits, based on gender, race and education. The survey puts a face on the people who receive Social Security disability benefits, so we can have a better understanding of their background.
Gender and Race
The total number of disability beneficiaries is split evenly with 50 percent being men and 50 percent being women. Approximately 53 percent of men receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, while close to 58 percent receive the needs-based Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program benefits. About 44 percent of the men receive both SSDI and SSI benefits. The survey showed that 47 percent of women receive SSDI and more than 52 percent receive SSI. A little more than 56 percent receive both SSDI and SSI. Additionally, Caucasians outnumber any other race receiving benefits, as they makeup 69 percent of all beneficiaries.
Education and Age
Just 7.8 percent of beneficiaries have a college degree. More than 38 percent of beneficiaries have a high school diploma or a GED, but more than 28 percent of beneficiaries did not complete high school and have no diploma or GED. As expected, older people are collecting disability benefits the most. More than 29 percent of all beneficiaries are at least 60 years old. Another 35 percent are between the ages of 50-59. This means that 64 percent of disability benefits go to people at least 50 years old or older.
Family
Trying to raise a family while on disability benefits can be extremely difficult. Approximately 24 percent of all beneficiaries have no family, but nearly 65 percent have a spouse or partner and more than 16 percent of beneficiaries have children.
Understanding who receives disability benefits humanizes people more, they are not just numbers. People receiving disability benefits include our family members, neighbors, friends and other people we know in the community. To see the entire survey click here.
