Fact Sheet
SOCIAL SECURITY
In 2023, an average of almost 67 million Americans per month will receive a Social Security
benefit, totaling about $1.4 trillion in benefits paid during the year.
Snapshot of a Month: June 2023 Beneficiary Data
ο Retired workers 49.4 million $90.8 billion $1,837 average monthly benefit
dependents 2.6 million $2.3 billion
ο Disabled workers 7.5 million $11.2 billion $1,486 average monthly benefit
dependents 1.2 million $0.6 billion
ο Survivors 5.8 million $8.5 billion
Social Security is the major source of income for most of the elderly.
ο Nearly nine out of ten people age 65 and older were receiving a Social Security benefit as
of June 30, 2023.
ο Social Security benefits represent about 30% of the income of the elderly. *
ο Among elderly Social Security beneficiaries, 37% of men and 42% of women receive
50% or more of their income from Social Security. *
ο Among elderly Social Security beneficiaries, 12% of men and 15% of women rely on
Social Security for 90% or more of their income. *
*This information is from research released in 2021 using 2015 data. See this link for more
information.
Social Security provides more than just retirement benefits.
ο Retired workers and their dependents accounted for 76.9% of total benefits paid in 2022.
ο Disabled workers and their dependents accounted for 11.6% of total benefits paid in
2022.
About 90 percent of workers aged 21-64 in covered employment in 2022 and their
families have protection in the event of a severe and prolonged disability.
About 1 in 4 of today’s 20 year-olds will become disabled and entitled to Social
Security disabled worker benefits before reaching age 67.
65% of the private sector workforce has no long-term disability insurance.
ο Survivors of deceased workers accounted for 11.5% of total benefits paid in 2022.
More than one in eight of today’s 20-year-olds will die before reaching age 67.
About 96% of persons aged 20-49 who worked in covered employment in 2022 have
survivors insurance protection for their children under age 18 (and surviving spouses
caring for children under age 16).
An estimated 180 million workers will work in OASDI-covered employment in 2023.
ο 31% of the workforce in private industry has no access to private pension coverage.
ο About two-thirds (63%) of workers report they are currently saving for retirement.
Having an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan is a key factor in whether
Americans save for retirement. Only 16% of those without access to an employer-
sponsored plan said they have any retirement savings.
In 1940, the life expectancy of a 65-year-old was almost 14 years; today, it is over 20
years.
The number of Americans 65 and older will increase from about 58 million in 2022 to
about 75 million by 2035. 1
In 2023, there are an estimated 2.7 covered workers per each Social Security
beneficiary. By 2035, the Trustees estimate there will be 2.3 covered workers for each
beneficiary.
1
Note that these values are for the Social Security area population as defined in the Social Security Trustees Report.
See definition at [Link]