The April 2021 SSD benefits statistics report from the Social Security Administration (SSA) is out, along with our analysis. Our monthly statistical snapshot reveals how disability pay and beneficiary numbers changed during the last 30 days. This monthly update helps people on disability see how their payments compare against the national average. This analysis includes data from both federal benefit programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
April 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 9,580,000
Disabled Workers: 8,128,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 104,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,349,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,146.40
Disabled Workers: $1,279.97
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $359.69
Children of Disabled Workers: $401.93
How the April 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
The April 2021 SSD benefits statistics report is giving us déjà vu with another massive monthly drop in total beneficiaries. Today, there are 27,000 fewer people getting SSD benefits compared to March. Disabled workers make up most of these losses, with 22,000 beneficiaries struck off this month’s payment rolls. Children of disabled workers also lost 4,000 SSD recipients in the last 30 days. Spousal disability beneficiaries, however, remained flat month-over-month:
Despite these falling numbers, the SSA approved a lot of new disability claimants between March and April. Newly approved SSD beneficiaries include:
- 48,619 disabled workers (25,756 men and 22,863 women)
- 2,272 spouses of disabled workers (270 husbands and 2,002 wives)
- 19,840 children of disabled workers
April 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
Most average payments in the April 2021 SSD benefits statistics report rose month-over-month. Benefits paid to children of disabled workers rose $.50 in March, while spouses received $.37 less this month. Disabled workers newly approved for benefits pushed that category’s average payment up $.26 since March. Overall, the average SSD payment nationwide increased $.33 during the last 30 days:
So, how much are people with newly approved claims getting in SSD benefits this month? Here’s how those newest monthly pay amounts break down:
- $1,455.67 to disabled workers ($1,601.71 to men, $1,291.16 to women)
- $384.36 to spousal beneficiaries ($337.53 for husbands, $390.68 for wives)
- $411.24 to children of disabled workers
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the April 2021 Report
The April 2021 SSD benefits statistics report also lists all SSI beneficiaries and average payments by age. Every SSI age category shrank significantly during the last 30 days:
Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,850,000 (-36,000)
Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,082,000 (-12,000)
SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,492,000 (-20,000)
SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,276,000 (-4,000)
Average SSI payments have varied by less than a dollar’s difference month-to-month so far in 2021. That’s true across all age groups, likely because SSI is a means-tested benefit program for only the poorest Americans:
- $586.49/month nationwide, averaged
- $694.80/month for children under 18
- $616.61/month for those aged 18-64
- $475.85/month for people aged 65 and older
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
You’re 3x more likely to get SSD benefits if a Social Security attorney files your application. People who qualify for legal assistance through this website typically get $12,000 in backpay at once, plus monthly benefits.
The SSA usually denies benefits the first time to anyone who applies without legal assistance, including eligible claimants. If you do win benefits on appeal, it usually takes 18-24 months to get your first payment.
Why not sign up for a free phone call from a local disability advocate near you? This phone call is the fastest and easiest way to get professional claim help. This service costs you nothing and gives you confidential advice that applies specifically to your situation. All disability lawyers also work on contingency. That means if a lawyer can’t get your claim approved, then you owe $0 for legal assistance. And if you win benefits, then you’ll only pay a small, one-time fee.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free disability benefits evaluation now!
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Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.