The Social Security Administration (SSA) just released its November 2021 SSD benefits statistics report. Each month’s report shows how disability pay and beneficiary numbers changed during the last 30 days. These statistical snapshots help people on disability compare their monthly payments against the average. Check the latest data below from both federal programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
November 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 9,254,000
Disabled Workers: 7,908,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 97,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,249,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,154.07
Disabled Workers: $1,282.39
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $357.24
Children of Disabled Workers: $403.37
How the November 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
The November 2021 SSD benefits statistics report shows 40,000 fewer beneficiaries overall this month compared to October. This number includes 35,000 fewer disabled workers, 1,000 fewer spousal beneficiaries and 4,000 fewer children. So far in 2021, each report shows about 30,333 fewer SSD beneficiaries compared to the previous month’s numbers:
Yet at the same time, the SSA also approved tens of thousands of new SSD claims every month. On average, here’s how many new people they approved for Social Security disability each month in 2020 vs. 2021:
- 2020: 83,797 new SSD claims approved each month
- 2021: 69,998 new SSD claims approved each month
These numbers show current monthly SSD claim approvals are down 16.5% year-over-year compared to 2020. Last year, the SSA approved just under a million SSD benefit applications (972,586 total). It’s unlikely we will see more than 850,000 new SSD claims approved by the end of 2021.
November 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
Average SSD payments changed very little during the past 30 days. November’s report shows a $.02 average increase in payments to disabled workers and total beneficiaries nationwide. Average benefits for children of disabled workers went up $.63 compared to October. Spousal beneficiaries, on average, received $.76 less in November compared to last month.
Average monthly SSD awards for YTD 2021 compared to 2020 are as follows:
- 2020: Disabled workers, $1,424.65; spouses, $380.58; children, $387.52
- 2021: Disabled workers, $1,464.18; spouses, $372.72; children, $408.35
With the largest COLA since 1982 taking effect in January, we expect much higher average SSD benefit payments for 2022.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the October 2021 Report
The November 2021 SSD benefits statistics report also shows the latest SSI program numbers. Two groups of SSI beneficiaries (children and seniors) grew in November, while the other two categories got smaller:
Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,730,000 (-7,000)
Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,050,000 (+2,000)
SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,387,000 (-13,000)
SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,294,000 (+5,000)
Here are November’s average monthly SSI payments for each age group:
- $585.04/month is the average monthly benefit nationwide across all ages
- $689.40/month for children younger than 18
- $617.37/month for working-age beneficiaries (i.e., those aged 18-64)
- $475.49/month for seniors 65+ who qualify based on age and financial status
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
Did you know the SSA’s nearly 3x more likely to award you benefits if you have a Social Security attorney? People who qualify for legal assistance usually get a $10,000 lump-sum payment and monthly benefits. However, the SSA denies 4 in 5 people who apply on their own without legal assistance.
An attorney charges nothing to review your paperwork and give personal, confidential claim help by phone. Since these lawyers work on contingency, if you don’t win benefits, then you pay $0 for legal assistance. But 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.