We have the October 2023 SSD benefits statistics report’s latest numbers from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This monthly update reveals current disability amounts and how many people got benefit payments during the last 30 days. You can use these reports to see trends impacting different people who rely on Social Security for monthly income. Below, we’ll review new data from both federal benefit programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
October 2023 SSD Benefits Statistics Report
Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 8,574,000
Disabled Workers: 7,420,000
Spouses of Disabled Workers: 89,000
Children of Disabled Workers: 1,065,000
Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,352.32
Disabled Workers: $1,489.47
Spouses of Disabled Workers: $407.55
Children of Disabled Workers: $475.53
How the October 2023 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries
The October 2023 SSD benefits statistics report shows 24,000 fewer total people getting those payments compared to last month. Since September’s report, 23,000 disabled workers moved off the SSA’s payment rolls. We noted no change in how many husbands and wives get SSD payments through their spouses for October. Finally, children getting payments from a disabled mom or dad fell by 1,000 month-over-month:
At least 344,000 fewer people are getting SSD benefits now compared to this time last year. And that’s despite the SSA awarding more than 675,000 people SSD just since January. That’s more than a million individual records the SSA had to update during this 12-month period.
The October 2023 SSD benefits statistics report also shows new awards to the following claimants this month:
- 50,408 disabled workers (27,160 men and 23,248 women)
- 2,448 spouses (289 husbands and 2,159 wives)
- 20,368 children of disabled workers
October 2023 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats
Nearly every group saw their average payments go up in the October 2023 SSD benefits statistics report. Children of disabled workers saw the biggest bump in pay this month, rising by $2.64 compared to September. Disabled workers’ average benefits rose $2.58 for October. Benefit payments to husbands and wives fell $.17 since September. All these pay rate changes drove the average SSD benefit amount up by $2.52 nationwide this month:
People just awarded SSD benefits in October 2023 will get the following monthly pay amounts, on average:
- $1,665.14 for disabled workers ($1,820.88 for men, and $1,483.19 for women)
- $420.24 for spouses ($346.32 for husbands, and $430.13 for wives)
- $472.81 for children
And here’s more good news: SSA’s newly announced 2024 COLA increase gives you another $48 in monthly SSD benefits. Look for your higher SSD payments to begin on the Wednesday in January that corresponds with your birth date.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Numbers in the October 2023 Report
The October 2023 SSD benefits statistics report also tracks SSI program beneficiaries and their average monthly pay amounts. Since September, it appears every beneficiary group grew larger except for working-age people on SSI:
Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,464,000 (+14,000)
Children younger than 18: 993,000 (+7,000)
People aged 18-64: 4,076,000 (-2,000)
SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,395,000 (+9,000)
The following are October 2023’s monthly average SSI payments, broken down by age:
- $676.60 (for all groups combined)
- $790.41 for children
- $720.97 for those aged 18-64
- $554.10 for seniors 65 and older (i.e., awards based on age, not health status)
How to Get Free Expert SSD Claim Help Now
The SSA is nearly 3x more likely to give you benefits when a lawyer files your application. Getting legal help can potentially net you at least $13,800 in back pay plus monthly SSD benefits.
Legally, lawyers cannot charge you any money unless the SSA awards you benefits. And if you’re successful, then you’ll only pay one small fee.
Want to talk to someone who can tell you in advance whether you’ll qualify for benefits? We can connect you with an expert by phone who can evaluate your case for free right away. Just one phone call could save you months of frustration and endless piles of paperwork!
Ready to begin? Then click the button below to start your free online benefits quiz and see if you may qualify:
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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.