February 2021 SSD benefits statistics report

February 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report

We have the February 2021 SSD benefits statistics report from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Our report analysis explains how federal disability payments and beneficiary numbers changed during the last 30 days. This monthly statistical snapshot helps people on disability benefits see how their monthly payments compare to the national average. For a complete look, we’ll review updates from both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.



February 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report

Total Number of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries: 9,638,000

Disabled Workers: 8,176,000

Spouses of Disabled Workers: 105,000

Children of Disabled Workers: 1,357,000

Average Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount: $1,145.59

Disabled Workers: $1,279.24

Spouses of Disabled Workers: $360.79

Children of Disabled Workers: $400.79

How the February 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics Report Affects Beneficiaries

Continuing last month’s trend, there’s a sizable jump in total beneficiaries listed in the February 2021 SSD benefits statistics report. While SSD beneficiary numbers steadily declined during the past few years, we expect nothing but growth throughout 2021. When America’s Great Recession began in 2008, it triggered years-long SSD recipient growth due to widespread, ongoing unemployment. It took a while, but the coronavirus pandemic’s economic impact is now driving monthly increases in SSD beneficiaries. At least 14,000 more total beneficiaries are visible in this month’s report. Disabled workers drove most of this increase, but another 1,000 spouses joined this month’s active-payment rolls. Children of disabled workers are the only beneficiary category that shrank month-over-month:

February 2021 SSD benefits statistics report: total beneficiaries

Despite these recent increases, the SSD program’s paying fewer beneficiaries now than it did one year ago. In fact, the SSA is paying benefits to at least 78,000 fewer people today than it did back in 2009! Only about 23% of people who apply for SSD benefits today get approved on their first try.

February 2021 SSD Benefits Statistics: Looking Deeper at the Monetary Stats

The February 2021 SSD benefits statistics report shows higher payments across all beneficiary groups this month. Spouses received just a slight bump in average benefits, with a $.17 increase since January. Payments to children rose $.79 since last month’s report, while disabled workers received $1.06 more SSD benefits for February. Overall, average SSD benefit payments nationwide rose $1.33 during the last 30 days.

February 2021 SSD benefits statistics report: monthly monetary average

Let’s say you just applied for SSD benefits. How will those payments compare to your average monthly paychecks earned during your working years? Here’s what you can expect:

  • 52% of your average monthly paycheck if you earned up to $25,039/year
  • 38.4% of your average monthly paycheck if you earned $25,000-$53,757 each year
  • 33% of your average monthly paycheck if you earned $54,000-$86,000 each year
  • 26% of your average monthly paycheck if you earned $86,000-$132,048 each year

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data in the February 2021 Report

The February 2021 SSD benefits statistics report includes monthly beneficiaries and average payments for the SSI program. All demographic groups gained new SSI beneficiaries in February – except for seniors, the only category that shrank this month. With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, two drops in a row for this age category seems striking:

Total SSI beneficiaries: 7,928,000 (+2,000)

Children under 18 receiving SSI: 1,104,000 (+4,000)

SSI recipients aged 18-64: 4,535,000 (+1,000)

SSI recipients aged 65+: 2,289,000 (-4,000)

Payments to SSI recipients across all age groups changed very little during this 30-day period:

  • $584.56/month for all groups nationwide, averaged
  • $686.40/month for children under 18 years old
  • $614.79/month for SSI recipients aged 18-64
  • $475.46/month for seniors aged 65 and older

Having a Social Security attorney file your SSD application triples your chances for benefit approval right away. People who qualify for legal assistance through this website typically get $12,000 in lump-sum backpay as well as monthly benefits. However, those who apply on their own without legal assistance usually get denied benefits. Of course, you could still win benefits on appeal if you don’t mind going to court and waiting another year. If you can’t afford to go that long without income, why not get free claim help over the phone?

All Social Security lawyers work on contingency. That means you pay $0 for legal assistance if the SSA doesn’t award you benefits. 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 disability 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.