October 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report

October 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Analysis

We have the October 2022 SSD benefits statistics report from the Social Security Administration (SSA) ready for your review. The SSA’s monthly update shows how disability pay and beneficiary numbers changed during the past 30 days. This allows people on disability benefits to see how their payments compare with the national average. Below, we’ll review the latest numbers from both federal programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).



October 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report

Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 8,918,000

Disabled Workers: 7,673,000

Spouses of Disabled Workers: 93,000

Children of Disabled Workers: 1,152,000

Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,233.70

Disabled Workers: $1,364.41

Spouses of Disabled Workers: $376.44

Children of Disabled Workers: $431.70

How the October 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries

Total beneficiaries are down again this month, according to the October 2022 SSD benefits statistics report. Disabled workers made up most losses since September’s report came out. There are 2,000 fewer children of disabled workers also receiving benefits compared to last month. However, spousal beneficiaries (i.e., husbands and wives of disabled workers) stayed flat month-over-month:

October 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report: Total Beneficiaries

While these numbers keep dropping, the SSA also approves thousands of new SSD claimants every month. In fact, the agency awarded more than 68,000 new applicants SSD payments in October 2022:

  • 46,254 disabled workers (25,027 men and 21,227 women)
  • 2,351 spousal beneficiaries (271 husbands and 2,080 wives)
  • 20,242 children of disabled workers

October 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats

Average monthly payments went up for nearly every group in the October 2022 SSD benefits statistics report. Spouses were the one category with smaller payments compared to September, down $.41 month-over-month. Average SSD payments for children increased $1.74 during this 30-day period. Disabled workers also saw a $1.83/month average pay bump for October. Overall, this brings the average SSD payment nationwide up $1.59 since last month:

October 2022 SSD Benefits Statistics Report: Monthly Monetary Average

Average SSD pay amounts for claimants approved since September 2022 are as follows:

  • $1,560.57/month for disabled workers ($1,711.83/month for men, and $1,382.13/month for women)
  • $397.29/month for spousal beneficiaries ($378.62/month for husbands, and $399.72/month for wives)
  • $437.95/month for children of disabled workers

New 8.7% Pay Raise Goes Into Effect Soon for 2023

The SSA recently announced a 2023 pay raise of 8.7% — the biggest jump in Social Security benefits since 1981. This higher pay amount affects the following groups:

Higher SSI payments begin at the end of December 2022. All other groups should see larger pay amounts in their first direct-deposited check after January 1, 2023.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the October 2022 Report

We also note any changes to SSI beneficiaries or pay amounts listed in the October 2022 SSD benefits statistics report. Children on SSI gained another 5,000 beneficiaries compared to last month. Working-aged people on SSI declined by 10,000. However, it looks like many of those folks moved into the seniors aged 65+ category:

Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,573,000 (+6,000)

Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,009,000 (+5,000)

SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,228,000 (-10,000)

SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,335,000 (+10,000)

And here are October 2022’s average SSI payments for each age group:

  • $623.94/month (all SSI beneficiaries nationwide, averaged)
  • $730.87/month for children younger than 18
  • $661.35/month for people aged 18-64
  • $510.19/month for people at least 65 years old

The SSA is nearly 3x more likely to award you disability if a Social Security attorney files your claim. Those who qualify for legal assistance typically receive at least $13,000 in lump-sum back benefits plus monthly SSD payments. We can match you with a nearby expert for free, no-obligation claim help by phone today. 

If you don’t win, then you pay $0 for professional claim help. 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 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.