The March 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report

Let’s review the March 2021 SSD benefits statistics report from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Our monthly statistical analysis will explain how federal disability payments and beneficiary numbers changed during the last 30 days. This monthly report update helps people on disability see how their monthly payments compare to everyone else’s nationwide. Our March update includes data from both programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

March 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report

Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 9,607,000

Disabled Workers: 8,150,000

Spouses of Disabled Workers: 104,000

Children of Disabled Workers: 1,353,000

Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,146.07

Disabled Workers: $1,279.71

Spouses of Disabled Workers: $360.06

Children of Disabled Workers: $401.43

How the March 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries

Well, one thing we didn’t expect in the March 2021 SSD benefits statistics report is a massive drop in beneficiaries. There are 26,000 fewer disabled workers getting benefits this month compared to February. Children of disabled workers lost 4,000 beneficiaries in March, and 1,000 fewer spouses get SSD benefits this month. Overall, that brings the total SSD beneficiaries in current-payment status nationwide down by 31,000 since February:

One interesting thing to note is the difference how many men vs. women currently have Social Security disability insurance. When you apply for SSD benefits, the SSA automatically rejects your application if you haven’t worked in 60 months. Agency data for December 2020 shows that:

• 5% of men aged 55+ can’t get SSD benefits because they haven’t worked recently or enough years to qualify
• 10% of women aged 25+ can’t get SSD benefits for this same reason
• 10% of men aged 25-50 also can’t get SSD benefits due to insufficient Social Security work credits

This shows why you should apply for SSD benefits as soon as your health forces you to stop working. If your DI policy’s coverage lapses before the SSA completes your claim review, then you cannot get SSD benefits.

March 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats

The March 2021 SSD benefits statistics report shows average payments rose for some but shrank for others. Average SSD spousal benefits fell $.73 compared to February, while payments to children of disabled workers rose $.64. Disabled-worker SSD payments increased $.47 in March, bringing the average payment up nationwide by $.48 this month. Generally, these changes indicate long-term SSD recipients converting to Social Security and newly approved applicants with higher lifetime average earnings.

In March 2021, average SSD payments for newly approved disabled workers were $1,347.92/month. Here’s how monthly benefit payments look, on average, for each family type the SSA approved this month:

• $1,978.96/month for families with a single disabled worker and one or more eligible dependent children
• $2,194.32/month for families with a disabled worker, young spouse and two or more dependent children
• $2,226.63/month for families with a disabled worker, young spouse and one or more dependent children
• $2,287.61/month for child-free families with a disabled worker and older spouse drawing regular Social Security payments
• $2,737.01/month for families with a disabled worker, aged spouse drawing regular Social Security and one or more eligible children

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the March 2021 Report

The March 2021 SSD benefits statistics report also lists SSI monthly beneficiaries and average payments for each age category. Every SSI age group shrank since February’s report came out, with working-age beneficiaries showing the largest drop overall:

Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,886,000 (-42,000)

Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,094,000 (-10,000)

SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,512,000 (-23,000)

SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,280,000 (-9,000)

Here are the current pay amounts for SSI recipients broken down for each age category:

• $585.75/month for all groups nationwide, averaged
• $689.78/month for children under 18 years old
• $616.10/month for SSI recipients aged 18-64
• $475.86/month for seniors aged 65 and older

You May Qualify for Legal Assistance

Want to triple your odds of getting SSD benefits the first time you apply? Then pay $0 out of your own pocket to have a Social Security attorney file your claim paperwork. People who qualify for legal assistance through this website typically get $12,000 in backpay as well as monthly SSD payments.

Of course, you can apply on your own without legal assistance. The SSA usually denies those claimants SSD benefits at least three times. Still, a little less than half those claimants win benefits 2-4 years later after appealing multiple times in court.

All Social Security lawyers give free, confidential claim advice by phone to those who qualify for legal assistance. Because they work on contingency, you owe your Social Security lawyer $0 if the SSA won’t award you benefits. And if you do win, 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!

Get Your Free Benefits Evaluation