Annual Statistical Supplement, 2019

Highlights and Trends

Social Security (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance)

Employment and Earnings

Workers in OASDI covered employment, 2018 175.9 million
Average earnings, 2018 $49,864
Earnings required in 2019 for—  
1 quarter of coverage $1,360
Maximum of 4 quarters of coverage $5,440
Earnings test exempt amounts for 2019  
Under full retirement age for entire year $17,640
For months before reaching full retirement age in 2019 $46,920
Beginning with month of reaching full retirement age in 2019 Test eliminated

Program Data

Cost-of-living adjustment for December 2018 2.8 percent
Average monthly benefit, December 2018  
Retired workers $1,461
Widows and widowers, nondisabled $1,388
Disabled workers $1,234
Number of beneficiaries, December 2018  
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance 62.9 million
Old-Age Insurance  
Total 46.8 million
Retired workers 43.7 million
Survivors Insurance  
Total 5.9 million
Widows and widowers, nondisabled 3.7 million
Disability Insurance  
Total 10.2 million
Disabled workers 8.5 million
Benefit payments, 2018  
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance $988.6 billion
Old-Age and Survivors Insurance $844.9 billion
Disability Insurance $143.7 billion
Administrative expenses, 2018  
Old-Age and Survivors Insurance  
Amount $3.8 billion
As a percentage of total benefits paid 0.4 percent
Disability Insurance  
Amount $2.9 billion
As a percentage of total benefits paid 2.0 percent

Program Trends

Supplemental Security Income

Annual Payment Adjustments

Monthly federal benefit rate, effective January 2019  
Individual living in his or her own household $771
Couple with both members eligible $1,157
Cost-of-living adjustment 2.8 percent

Program Data

Federally administered payments  
Benefits paid in 2018 $54.8 billion
Number of recipients, December 2018 8.1 million
Average benefit, December 2018 $550.86
Federal SSI payments  
Benefits paid in 2018 $52.2 billion
Number of recipients, December 2018 8.0 million
Average benefit, December 2018 $534.67
Federally administered state supplementation  
Benefits paid in 2018 $2.6 billion
Number of recipients, December 2018 a 1.5 million
Average benefit, December 2018 $145.53
a. Includes almost 1.5 million persons receiving federal SSI and state supplementation and almost 0.2 million persons receiving state supplementation only.

Program Trends

Poverty Data

Weighted average poverty thresholds, 2018  
Individual, aged 65 or older $12,043
Couple, householder aged 65 or older $15,193
Family of four $25,701