Despite Some Gains, Social Security Administration Data Show a Low Level of Workforce Participation Among SSI Recipients

Authors

Daria Domin, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
Jaimie Ciulla Timmons, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston

Document Type

Occasional Paper

Publication Date

2017

Abstract

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), a total of 4,961,659 blind and disabled recipients1 between the ages of 18 and 64 received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits in 2015. Out of the almost 5 million individuals receiving SSI benefits, only 6.3% worked (n=311,922).

Adults with disabilities between the ages of 40 and 64 were a significant demographic of people who receive SSI, constituting almost two thirds of recipients in 2015 (64%; n=3,167,307). However, only 3.5% (n=111,762) of SSI recipients with disabilities in this age group worked.

In comparison, younger SSI recipients (ages 18–39) constituted 36% (n=1,794,352) of the total SSI recipients. However, their workforce participation was over 3 times higher compared to the 40–64 age group, at 11.2%.

Comments

Data Note No. 58.

Recommended Citation

Domin, Daria; Timmons, Jaimie Ciulla; and ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, "Despite Some Gains, Social Security Administration Data Show a Low Level of Workforce Participation Among SSI Recipients" (2017). Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion. 67.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/ici_datanote/67