U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Policy

Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2003

(released June 2003)
 

On this page:

Contact Information

Questions about the charts should be directed to Angela Y. Harper at 410-966-9541 or fast.facts@ssa.gov. For additional copies, please e-mail op.publications@ssa.gov or call 202-358-6274.

Preface

The Social Security program, from its beginning to the present, has been the subject of serious discussion and sometimes vigorous debate. Today, as we consider the future direction of Social Security, we need to base the discussion on information that is factual, informative, and easy to comprehend.

Fast Facts & Figures answers the most frequently asked questions about the programs SSA administers. It highlights basic program data for the Social Security (retirement, survivors, and disability) and Supplemental Security Income programs. Most of the data come from the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, which contains more than 250 detailed tables. The information on the income of the aged is from the data series Income of the Population 55 or Older.

The faces that emerge from these facts and figures illustrate the importance of Social Security for our oldest and our youngest citizens. In all, more than 50 million people receive some type of benefit or assistance.

Patrice Cole prepared this chartbook. Emil Loomis designed the chartbook and prepared the print version for publication. Celine Houget edited the text and graphics, and Laurie Brown prepared the Web versions.

Susan Grad
Acting Associate Commissioner for Research, Evaluation, and Statistics
June 2003

Errata

The electronic versions of this chartbook that were originally posted contained several errors. The current electronic versions and the print version contain corrected information in the following sections:

  • Did You Know That...
    • Social Security provided at least half the income for 65% of the aged
    • Disability and blindness were the reasons for paying 81% of SSI beneficiaries
  • General Information, 2003
    • Average wage index
    • Taxes payable
      • Average earner
    • Age for full retirement benefits
      • Information for workers born in 1938 and 1939 added
    • OASDI administrative expenses
    • Trust fund operations
    • Workload
    • Supplemental Security Income
      • Student exclusion limits

Table of Contents

The following files are available for this document in the given formats:
Entire publication
HTML. PDF.

Accessibility and Usability Information

The HTML files for this document are Section 508 compliant—accessible to persons with disabilities. If you have comments on how to improve the accessibility of this document, please e-mail op.webmaster@ssa.gov.

In order to view and print the PDF files for this document, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not already have it, you may download the Acrobat Reader from Adobe's Web site at no charge.

Other Editions of this Publication

Next Expected Update

September 2009

To receive an e-mail notification when this and other Office of Policy documents are released on our Web site, please sign up for our e-mail notification service.

Other Editions