The January 2022 SSD benefits report is now out from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Each monthly update shows how disability pay and beneficiary numbers changed during the last 30 days. These reports also help people on disability compare their monthly payments with the national average. We’ll review the latest data from both federal benefit programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
January 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 9,179,000
Disabled Workers: 7,844,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 94,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,241,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,222.75
Disabled Workers: $1,358.50
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $376.51
Children of Disabled Workers: $428.84
How the January 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
Nearly 40,000 fewer people are getting Social Security disability this month, according to the January 2022 SSD benefits statistics report. The disabled workers category lost 33,000 beneficiaries, while spouses fell by 2,0000 month-over-month. Children of disabled workers also lost 4,000 benefit recipients since December’s report came out:
And finally, here’s a snapshot of what the average disabled-worker family looked like at the end of 2021:
- 4 SSD beneficiaries per household, on average (disabled worker, spouse, and two minor children)
- $2,381.67/month in SSD benefits (average family payment nationwide)
- $611.51/month in SSD benefits per beneficiary, on average
January 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
Surprisingly, the January 2022 SSD benefits statistics report shows little change in average monthly payments. Payments to disabled workers nationwide only increased $.20 per month, on average. However, benefits to spouses fell $1.12 since December. In addition, children’s monthly payments lost $.80 during the last 30 days. Overall, this brings the average monthly SSD payment nationwide down by $.30 for January:
In December 2021, here’s the national average SSD benefit payment for each group:
- $1,358/month to disabled workers
- $378/month to spousal beneficiaries
- $428/month to children of disabled workers
- $818/month to disabled surviving spouses aged 50+ of deceased workers
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the January 2022 Report
The January 2022 SSD benefits statistics report also includes the latest SSI numbers for seniors and people with disabilities. Children under 18 added another 5,000 SSI recipients in January. Working-age beneficiaries fell by 14,000 since December. Seniors gained another 3,000 SSI beneficiaries. As a result, the total national average fell by 6,000 during the last 30 days:
Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,690,000 (-6,000)
Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,043,000 (+5,000)
SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,340,000 (-14,000)
SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,297,000 (+3,000)
Average SSI payments for each age group rose quite a bit this month. Here are the current amounts for each category in January 2022:
- $624.51/month (all SSI beneficiaries in every age group combined nationwide)
- $732.72/month for children aged 18 and younger
- $658.27/month for those aged 18-64
- $511.44/month for seniors 65+ getting SSI based on age and poverty level
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
The SSA is nearly 3x more likely to grant you benefits if a Social Security attorney files your paperwork. Those who qualify for legal assistance typically get at least $12,000 in one lump-sum payment plus monthly SSD benefits. However, the SSA denies 4 out of every 5 claims from those who file on their own without legal assistance.
You’ll pay $0 for personal, private claim help by phone or to have a lawyer review your application in person. That’s because all disability lawyers we can connect you with work on contingency. So, if your case doesn’t win, then you pay $0 for legal assistance. 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 online 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.