Children Receiving SSI, December 2003

Table 3. Number and percentage distribution of SSI awards, by age, 1974–2003
Year All ages Under 18 18–64 65 or older
Number Percentage
of total
Number Percentage
of total
Number Percentage
of total
Total 24,682,560 3,001,250 12.2 14,265,430 57.8 7,415,880 30.0
State conversions a 3,158,410 2,620 0.1 1,305,060 41.3 1,850,730 58.6
Federal applications
1974 1,329,870 66,880 5.0 491,170 36.9 771,820 58.0
1975 927,800 62,880 6.8 508,950 54.9 355,970 38.4
1976 674,580 45,030 6.7 403,350 59.8 226,200 33.5
1977 643,480 50,970 7.9 375,950 58.4 216,560 33.7
1978 566,190 47,050 8.3 323,170 57.1 195,970 34.6
1979 517,010 45,810 8.9 292,380 56.6 178,820 34.6
1980 526,790 46,260 8.8 293,740 55.8 186,790 35.5
1981 411,510 39,050 9.5 248,340 60.3 124,120 30.2
1982 342,680 35,670 10.4 202,590 59.1 104,420 30.5
1983 458,610 42,110 9.2 262,660 57.3 153,840 33.5
1984 586,670 45,740 7.8 322,390 55.0 218,540 37.3
1985 527,800 46,590 8.8 324,070 61.4 157,140 29.8
1986 603,580 51,020 8.5 391,600 64.9 160,960 26.7
1987 589,440 48,480 8.2 373,320 63.3 167,640 28.4
1988 578,370 47,560 8.2 361,070 62.4 169,740 29.3
1989 629,460 51,520 8.2 388,120 61.7 189,820 30.2
1990 718,310 76,070 10.6 446,940 62.2 195,300 27.2
1991 822,890 126,190 15.3 504,860 61.4 191,840 23.3
1992 1,049,260 221,080 21.1 636,300 60.6 191,880 18.3
1993 1,054,170 236,220 22.4 630,030 59.8 187,920 17.8
1994 944,830 203,190 21.5 580,640 61.5 161,000 17.0
1995 893,460 177,550 19.9 571,080 63.9 144,830 16.2
1996 797,970 144,270 18.1 526,690 66.0 127,010 15.9
1997 673,340 116,280 17.3 461,260 68.5 95,800 14.2
1998 739,410 135,600 18.3 489,240 66.2 114,570 15.5
1999 757,270 139,400 18.4 493,960 65.2 123,910 16.4
2000 747,010 144,540 19.3 483,020 64.7 119,450 16.0
2001 770,340 156,900 20.4 502,590 65.2 110,850 14.4
2002 818,050 169,130 20.7 533,470 65.2 115,450 14.1
2003 824,000 179,590 21.8 537,420 65.2 106,990 13.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Extract Record format), 10 percent sample.
a. Persons who were converted in 1973 from the state Old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled programs to the SSI program.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.children@ssa.gov.