The Social Security Administration (SSA) just released the March 2022 SSD benefits statistics report, so let’s dive in. Each month’s statistical snapshot shows how disability pay and beneficiary numbers changed during the last 30 days. This allows those on disability to compare their monthly payments against the national average. Our analysis includes current data from both federal benefit programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
March 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 9,151,000
Disabled Workers: 7,822,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 95,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,235,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,224.53
Disabled Workers: $1,360.16
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $375.98
Children of Disabled Workers: $430.43
How the March 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
Reversing a steady downward trend since February 2021, the March 2022 SSD benefits report shows an increase in disability recipients. Disabled workers make up most of this month’s gains, adding 12,000 new beneficiaries. Another 1,000 spousal beneficiaries gained benefits this month, while children of disabled workers lost 3,000 SSD recipients. Overall, that brings the total number of people on SSD benefits up by 9,000 between February and March 2022:
Here’s a breakdown of who the SSA approved for SSD benefits during the last 30 days:
- 43,290 disabled workers (23,347 men and 19,943 women)
- 2,032 spouses of disabled workers (233 husbands and 1,799 wives)
- 18,629 children of disabled workers
March 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
The March 2022 SSD benefits statistics report also shows average pay amounts broken down by claimant type. Average benefit payments increased across the board in March. Spousal benefits saw the smallest bump in monthly pay, adding $.26 compared to February. Benefits to children of disabled workers added another $1.09, on average. Average payments to disabled workers rose $1.46 month-over-month, bringing total SSD payments up nationwide by $1.76:
These amounts include everyone who’s already getting SSD benefits, but newly approved claimants typically get more money. See the latest average SSD benefit amounts for all newly approved claimants below:
- $1,564.43/month to disabled workers ($1,724.70/month for men, and $1,381.75/month for women)
- $386.97/month to spousal beneficiaries ($346.62/month for husbands, and $392.66/month for wives)
- $454.30/month to children of disabled workers
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the March 2022 Report
The March 2022 SSD benefits statistics report also includes the latest SSI pay amounts and recipients in every age category. Every group getting SSI benefits shrank quite a bit between February and March:
Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,649,000 (-43,000)
Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,035,000 (-9,000)
SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,323,000 (-23,000)
SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,291,000 (-8,000)
In addition, here are the average monthly SSI payments for each age group in March:
- $625.50/month (all SSI beneficiaries in every age group combined nationwide)
- $737.99/month for children aged 18 and younger
- $659.06/month for those aged 18-64
- $511.47/month for seniors 65+ on SSI based on age and income alone
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
The SSA is nearly 3x more likely to give you benefits when a Social Security attorney files your paperwork. Those who qualify for legal assistance through this website usually receive at least $12,000 in backpay, plus monthly benefits. People who apply on their own without legal assistance usually go 2-3 years with no income before winning on appeal.
Every disability lawyer we can connect you with for free claim help works on contingency. That means you pay $0 for legal assistance if you don’t get a lump-sum cash payment. 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!
Get Your Free Benefits Evaluation
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.