We’ve got new May 2022 SSD benefits statistics report numbers from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Every month’s update shows how disability pay and total recipient numbers changed during the last 30 days. Those on disability can see how their monthly payments compare against the national average as time progresses. Below, we discuss current numbers from both federal disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
May 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 9,135,000
Disabled Workers: 7,811,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 96,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,228,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,226.34
Disabled Workers: $1,361.67
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $376.33
Children of Disabled Workers: $431.73
How the May 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
After two months of steady increases, the May 2022 SSD benefits report lists fewer people on disability than in April. Husbands and wives getting spousal SSD payments stayed flat during the last 30 days. However, both disabled workers and their dependent children shrank since last month’s report came out. There are now 5,000 fewer kids and 28,000 fewer adult workers getting SSD payments for May:
It’s important to note these numbers went down despite the SSA approving tens of thousands of new SSD claims. These new SSD applications gained approval for benefits in May:
- 47,409 disabled workers (25,324 men and 22,085 women)
- 2,435 spouses of disabled workers (287 husbands and 2,148 wives)
- 18,640 children of disabled workers
May 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
The May 2022 SSD benefits statistics report also lists average payments broken down by beneficiary category. Average SSD payments to husbands and wives of disabled workers went down $.69 from April to May. By contrast, average monthly benefits for children increased $.48 during this 30-day period. Disabled workers saw a modest bump in average monthly pay (+$.27) for May. Overall, this brought the national average SSD payment up $.31 compared to April:
The SSA averages current SSD payments for everyone in each group, which includes both existing and newly approved claimants. That’s why people just now applying for Social Security disability should expect to receive much higher monthly pay amounts. See how May 2022 SSD benefits for newly approved claims compare to average amounts shown above:
- $1,568.22/month to disabled workers ($1,723.66/month for men, and $1,389.99/month for women)
- $382.70/month to spousal beneficiaries ($336.37/month for husbands, and $388.89/month for wives)
- $424.85/month to children of disabled workers
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the May 2022 Report
The May 2022 SSD benefits statistics report also shows SSI benefit amounts by age and how many people get them. Every group gained new people on SSI this month compared to April except one, and that’s working-age beneficiaries:
Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,638,000 (+13,000)
Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,032,000 (+5,000)
SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,307,000 (flat/no change)
SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,299,000 (+7,000)
And here are average monthly SSI payments for May broken down by age group:
- $623.93/month (all SSI beneficiaries nationwide, averaged across age groups)
- $732.48/month for minor children
- $658.21/month for working-aged people (i.e., 18-64 years old)
- $511.13/month for those aged 65 and older
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
The SSA is nearly 3x more likely to pay you disability benefits when a Social Security attorney files your paperwork. Those who qualify for legal assistance through our network usually get more than $12,000 in lump-sum backpay plus monthly benefits. Even better, an attorney can shorten your wait for payments from 2 years (on average) to six months or less!
The advocates we connect you with charge $0 for legal assistance unless the SSA gives you a cash settlement. And if you 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.