SSI Disabled Recipients Who Work, December 2003

Blind and Disabled Recipients Who Work

Chart 3. Percentage distribution, by age, December 2003

One-third of the working recipients in December 2003 were under age 30, and 25 percent were aged 30–39. Only 21 percent were aged 50 or older.

Pie chart with 5 slices, showing age under 22 equals 10%, age 22 to 29 equals 23%, age 30 to 39 equals 25%, age 40 to 49 equals 22%, and age 50 or older equals 21%.
SOURCE: Table 7.
NOTE: Data include section 1619(b) participants.
Chart 4. Percentage distribution, by diagnostic group, December 2003

A large majority of working SSI recipients aged 18–64 in December 2003 were disabled because of a mental impairment. Forty-two percent were diagnosed with mental retardation and 22 percent with other mental disorders. Nine percent had diseases of the nervous system and sense organs, mostly blindness.

Pie chart with tabular version below.
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Table equivalent for Chart 4. Percentage distribution, by diagnostic group, December 2003
Diagnostic group Percent
Mental retardation 42
Other mental disorders 22
Nervous system and sense organs 9
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 3
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases 1
Other physical disorders 8
Unknown 15
 
SOURCE: Table 3.
NOTE: Data include section 1619(b) participants.
Chart 5. Percentage distribution, by monthly earnings, December 2003

Two out of three working recipients earned less than $500 in December 2003. This amount would not affect their status as disabled, since it is less than the substantial gainful activity level of $800 for 2003. One out of seven earned $1,000 or more. This proportion includes those receiving special cash benefits, or special Medicaid status, under section 1619.

Pie chart with 5 slices, showing earnings of $65 or less equals 25%, $66 to $199 equals 17%, $200 to $499 equals 24%, $500 to $999 equals 20%, and $1,000 or more equals 14%.
SOURCE: Table 7.
NOTE: Data include section 1619(b) participants.
Table 6. Number participating in section 1619(a) or 1619(b) and others who work, by state or other area, December 2003
State or area Total Section 1619(a)
participants		 Section 1619(b)
participants		 Other recipients
who work
All areas a 323,682 17,130 71,089 235,447
Alabama 3,714 219 902 2,593
Alaska 574 29 154 391
Arizona 3,423 209 879 2,335
Arkansas 3,405 149 739 2,517
California 42,178 3,568 6,497 32,113
Colorado 3,931 143 807 2,981
Connecticut 3,842 166 1,058 2,618
Delaware 804 36 242 526
District of Columbia 663 57 219 387
Florida 11,080 690 3,174 7,216
Georgia 6,990 319 1,454 5,217
Hawaii 746 41 150 555
Idaho 1,674 69 423 1,182
Illinois 12,999 738 2,711 9,550
Indiana 5,713 244 1,427 4,042
Iowa 6,567 197 1,487 4,883
Kansas 3,920 142 935 2,843
Kentucky 4,593 210 1,125 3,258
Louisiana 5,454 375 1,424 3,655
Maine 2,206 100 643 1,463
Maryland 5,602 274 1,219 4,109
Massachusetts 9,671 618 2,876 6,177
Michigan 13,947 598 3,143 10,206
Minnesota 9,222 278 2,044 6,900
Mississippi 3,054 203 783 2,068
Missouri 7,163 263 1,709 5,191
Montana 1,694 50 373 1,271
Nebraska 2,934 98 587 2,249
Nevada 1,329 66 302 961
New Hampshire 1,248 50 330 868
New Jersey 7,605 327 1,694 5,584
New Mexico 2,142 105 586 1,451
New York 29,742 1,665 5,979 22,098
North Carolina 7,674 284 1,576 5,814
North Dakota 1,332 26 286 1,020
Ohio 16,582 722 3,058 12,802
Oklahoma 3,579 139 566 2,874
Oregon 3,826 123 919 2,784
Pennsylvania 15,481 914 3,623 10,944
Rhode Island 1,668 85 368 1,215
South Carolina 4,786 162 831 3,793
South Dakota 2,089 54 472 1,563
Tennessee 5,242 255 1,177 3,810
Texas 13,594 713 3,302 9,579
Utah 2,112 81 422 1,609
Vermont 1,071 52 351 668
Virginia 6,260 315 1,441 4,504
Washington 5,594 407 1,627 3,560
West Virginia 1,976 124 454 1,398
Wisconsin 10,211 349 2,360 7,502
Wyoming 760 29 181 550
Outlying area
Northern Mariana Islands 16 b b b
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Extract Record format), 100 percent data.
a. Includes data not distributed by category.
b. Data are not shown to avoid disclosure of information for particular individuals.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.workers@ssa.gov.
Table 7. Number and percentage who work and their average earnings, by selected characteristics, December 2003
Characteristic Number Percent Average earnings (dollars)
Total 323,682 100.0 469
Age
Under 18 3,194 1.0 382
18–21 29,137 9.0 436
22–29 72,943 22.5 529
30–39 80,117 24.8 497
40–49 71,128 22.0 471
50–59 42,504 13.1 421
60–64 12,518 3.9 366
65 or older 12,141 3.8 280
Sex
Male 171,840 53.1 468
Female 151,842 46.9 469
Earned income a
Wages 306,073 94.6 482
Self-employment 18,812 5.8 281
Earnings (dollars)
65 or less 80,874 25.0 52
66–99 15,037 4.6 82
100–199 40,792 12.6 137
200–299 31,774 9.8 234
300–399 25,386 7.8 333
400–499 21,156 6.5 432
500–599 19,849 6.1 527
600–699 15,843 4.9 630
700–799 11,769 3.6 734
800–899 9,322 2.9 829
900–999 6,900 2.1 931
1,000 or more 44,980 13.9 1,611
Unearned income a
None 161,282 49.8 548
Social Security 141,139 43.6 367
Other pensions 2,623 0.8 303
Income based on need 90 0 713
Asset income 23,254 7.2 421
Other 12,262 3.8 559
Work incentives a
Section 1619(a) 17,132 5.3 1,059
Section 1619(b) 71,097 22.0 1,081
Plans for achieving self-support b 438 0.1 720
Impairment-related work expenses 7,604 2.3 521
Blind work expenses 3,074 0.9 945
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Extract Record format), 100 percent data.
NOTE: Includes section 1619(b) participants.
a. The sum of the entries may be greater than the total because some recipients may receive more than one type of earned or unearned income, or both earned and unearned income, or benefit from more than one work incentive provision.
b. Number of working recipients with a plan for achieving self-support (PASS). See Tables 14–17 for data on all recipients with a PASS.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.workers@ssa.gov.