Annual Statistical Supplement, 2017

Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance

Benefits in Current-Payment Status

Dependents and Survivors

Table 5.F1 Number of wives and husbands and total monthly benefits, by type of benefit, December 1950–2016, selected years
Year Total Wives entitled solely because of age Wives entitled because of children Husbands
Subtotal With at least 1 child under age 16 a With at least 1 disabled child b
Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars)
  Wives and husbands of retired workers
1950 508,350 11,995 498,688 11,865 8,865 114 8,865 114 . . . . . . 797 16
1955 1,191,963 39,416 1,124,616 37,826 57,284 1,315 57,284 1,315 . . . . . . 10,063 274
1960 2,269,384 87,867 2,143,949 84,018 110,909 3,344 101,774 3,010 9,135 334 14,526 504
1965 2,613,550 114,035 2,433,602 108,069 168,951 5,508 154,829 4,947 14,122 561 10,997 458
1970 2,668,105 163,263 2,491,724 155,510 167,968 7,261 154,919 6,542 13,049 719 8,413 492
1975 2,867,388 301,623 2,664,132 287,043 195,993 13,861 178,909 12,391 17,084 1,470 7,263 720
1980 3,015,549 518,500 2,789,472 490,818 186,894 22,508 167,793 19,708 19,101 2,800 39,183 5,174
1985 3,069,067 755,844 2,926,300 732,464 107,166 17,347 84,074 12,762 23,092 4,585 35,601 6,033
1986 3,086,091 776,870 2,948,854 754,026 102,549 16,933 79,471 12,304 23,078 4,629 34,688 5,911
1987 3,089,968 817,058 2,959,301 794,258 96,928 16,865 74,141 12,078 22,787 4,788 33,739 5,935
1988 3,086,022 854,644 2,959,856 831,659 93,577 17,071 71,585 12,266 21,992 4,805 32,589 5,914
1989 3,093,075 905,281 2,971,440 881,836 89,839 17,431 68,857 12,571 20,982 4,859 31,796 6,014
1990 3,101,085 964,983 2,982,034 940,514 87,925 18,300 67,785 13,322 20,140 4,977 31,126 6,169
1991 3,104,235 1,008,672 2,986,975 983,434 86,682 19,020 66,992 13,897 19,690 5,122 30,578 6,218
1992 3,111,515 1,047,553 2,995,629 1,021,616 85,680 19,648 66,618 14,468 19,062 5,180 30,206 6,289
1993 3,094,447 1,075,073 2,980,671 1,048,712 83,751 19,993 65,225 14,782 18,526 5,211 30,025 6,368
1994 3,066,430 1,101,203 2,954,950 1,074,452 81,644 20,296 63,575 15,033 18,069 5,263 29,836 6,455
1995 3,026,012 1,120,924 2,917,764 1,094,203 78,507 20,155 61,132 14,932 17,375 5,223 29,741 6,567
1996 2,970,226 1,139,092 2,872,316 1,113,470 68,310 18,942 52,384 13,874 15,926 5,068 29,600 6,680
1997 2,922,170 1,148,558 2,828,261 1,123,381 64,123 18,363 49,372 13,540 14,751 4,823 29,786 6,814
1998 2,864,230 1,145,353 2,773,583 1,120,553 60,634 17,883 46,649 13,205 13,985 4,678 30,013 6,917
1999 2,811,008 1,155,479 2,722,244 1,130,413 58,229 17,905 45,002 13,333 13,227 4,572 30,535 7,161
2000 2,798,203 1,200,835 2,707,444 1,173,771 58,416 19,212 45,680 14,547 12,736 4,665 32,343 7,851
2001 2,741,962 1,213,842 2,652,289 1,186,078 55,995 19,335 44,009 14,732 11,986 4,603 33,678 8,429
2002 2,681,153 1,210,108 2,591,336 1,181,531 54,683 19,579 43,212 15,022 11,471 4,557 35,143 8,998
2003 2,621,691 1,214,103 2,532,377 1,184,720 52,791 19,774 42,023 15,301 10,768 4,473 36,523 9,609
2004 2,568,853 1,227,331 2,480,652 1,197,209 49,947 19,681 40,122 15,378 9,825 4,303 38,254 10,441
2005 2,526,459 1,260,857 2,439,582 1,229,775 46,766 19,602 37,543 15,315 9,223 4,287 40,111 11,479
2006 2,478,599 1,282,860 2,391,928 1,250,678 44,597 19,632 35,847 15,344 8,750 4,287 42,074 12,550
2007 2,432,082 1,292,620 2,345,674 1,259,718 42,159 19,252 34,025 15,131 8,134 4,122 44,249 13,649
2008 2,370,611 1,347,716 2,282,698 1,311,855 40,884 20,129 33,079 15,847 7,805 4,282 47,029 15,732
2009 2,343,601 1,345,643 2,250,741 1,307,001 41,443 20,758 33,632 16,379 7,811 4,378 51,417 17,885
2010 2,316,536 1,343,640 2,216,430 1,300,831 43,102 21,943 34,020 16,775 9,082 5,168 57,004 20,866
2011 2,291,792 1,392,093 2,186,094 1,344,329 42,466 22,604 33,429 17,251 9,037 5,353 63,232 25,160
2012 2,280,662 1,428,684 2,166,432 1,374,556 41,754 22,756 32,989 17,445 8,765 5,311 72,476 31,371
2013 2,285,636 1,481,837 2,160,404 1,419,049 40,756 22,728 32,306 17,499 8,450 5,229 84,476 40,060
2014 2,303,480 1,550,839 2,164,305 1,476,492 39,654 22,620 31,359 17,391 8,295 5,229 99,521 51,727
2015 2,335,807 1,612,415 2,178,484 1,523,810 39,055 22,376 30,862 17,179 8,193 5,197 118,268 66,229
2016 2,371,074 1,678,368 2,194,092 1,574,316 38,495 22,280 30,366 17,094 8,129 5,186 138,487 81,771
  Wives and husbands of disabled workers
1958 12,231 415 4,845 192 7,370 223 7,345 222 25 1 16 1
1960 76,599 2,636 21,845 841 54,543 1,788 53,549 1,746 994 42 211 7
1965 193,362 6,761 29,352 1,109 163,500 5,635 160,922 5,512 2,578 123 510 17
1970 283,447 12,060 41,582 2,063 241,341 9,975 235,892 9,667 5,449 307 524 22
1975 452,922 30,536 64,883 5,263 387,474 25,239 380,763 24,633 6,711 606 565 35
1980 461,878 51,028 77,276 9,672 382,457 41,159 374,147 40,018 8,310 1,142 2,145 197
1985 305,532 40,507 79,294 12,693 224,704 27,656 215,012 26,055 9,692 1,602 1,534 158
1986 300,826 39,481 78,925 12,766 220,426 26,566 210,515 24,952 9,911 1,614 1,475 149
1987 290,888 39,195 73,484 12,808 211,222 25,854 201,280 24,194 9,942 1,661 6,182 532
1988 280,821 38,878 70,654 12,924 203,788 25,402 194,068 23,746 9,720 1,656 6,379 552
1989 271,488 39,148 67,154 12,974 197,946 25,590 188,562 23,916 9,384 1,674 6,388 584
1990 265,890 39,869 63,584 13,018 195,818 26,222 186,641 24,506 9,177 1,716 6,488 629
1991 266,219 40,792 60,866 13,020 198,457 27,071 189,401 25,321 9,056 1,750 6,896 701
1992 270,674 41,951 59,536 13,196 203,703 27,967 194,459 26,152 9,244 1,815 7,435 788
1993 272,759 42,570 58,052 13,241 206,975 28,490 197,589 26,616 9,386 1,874 7,732 839
1994 271,054 43,263 56,343 13,367 206,854 29,011 197,492 27,094 9,362 1,917 7,857 885
1995 263,539 43,105 53,882 13,300 201,827 28,892 192,573 26,962 9,254 1,929 7,830 913
1996 223,854 38,366 51,779 13,251 166,586 24,432 158,106 22,597 8,480 1,834 5,489 683
1997 206,959 36,585 51,265 13,251 150,647 22,683 142,717 20,928 7,930 1,755 5,047 651
1998 189,843 34,530 50,759 13,197 134,584 20,718 127,083 19,032 7,501 1,686 4,500 614
1999 176,299 33,336 50,165 13,314 121,906 19,407 114,842 17,781 7,064 1,626 4,228 615
2000 165,123 32,763 49,171 13,488 111,933 18,649 105,248 17,044 6,685 1,605 4,019 626
2001 156,899 32,491 48,597 13,794 104,271 18,034 97,942 16,460 6,329 1,574 4,031 663
2002 151,614 32,209 48,402 13,970 99,075 17,542 93,034 16,008 6,041 1,533 4,137 697
2003 150,886 33,401 51,536 15,304 95,042 17,335 89,168 15,808 5,874 1,527 4,308 762
2004 152,804 35,378 57,891 17,437 90,407 17,103 84,885 15,608 5,522 1,494 4,506 838
2005 153,800 37,865 63,069 19,930 86,029 17,006 80,644 15,482 5,385 1,523 4,702 930
2006 153,470 39,563 67,445 21,934 81,122 16,607 75,917 15,069 5,205 1,538 4,903 1,022
2007 152,802 40,791 71,212 23,591 76,415 16,087 71,372 14,554 5,043 1,533 5,175 1,113
2008 154,230 44,030 76,035 26,501 72,668 16,261 67,851 14,696 4,817 1,565 5,527 1,268
2009 158,122 45,306 79,969 27,759 72,083 16,124 67,252 14,558 4,831 1,566 6,070 1,424
2010 160,300 45,925 81,487 28,093 72,201 16,234 67,346 14,638 4,855 1,596 6,612 1,598
2011 164,030 48,970 85,221 30,442 71,503 16,649 66,768 15,033 4,735 1,615 7,306 1,880
2012 162,550 49,385 85,306 30,882 69,256 16,374 64,673 14,784 4,583 1,590 7,988 2,129
2013 156,672 48,239 81,916 30,008 66,288 15,837 61,985 14,328 4,303 1,509 8,468 2,394
2014 148,955 46,852 78,800 29,351 61,346 14,869 57,330 13,450 4,016 1,419 8,809 2,632
2015 141,760 45,141 75,499 28,235 56,845 13,867 53,078 12,529 3,767 1,338 9,416 3,038
2016 134,680 43,633 73,328 27,597 51,411 12,679 47,925 11,452 3,486 1,227 9,941 3,357
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Prior to August 1981, benefits were payable to mothers and fathers caring for a child under age 18. For mothers and fathers caring for a child who was at least age 14 and who were entitled in August 1981, benefits were continued until the child attained age 18 or September 1983, whichever came earlier.
b. Excludes wives with both disabled and nondisabled children in their care.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F3 Percentage distribution of wives with entitlement based on age, by monthly benefit and age, December 2016
Monthly benefit (dollars) Total, 62 or older 62–64 65–69 70–74 75–79 80–84 85 or older
Total  
Number 2,267,420 166,796 773,282 521,987 390,299 255,173 159,883
Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Less than 150.00 4.7 12.9 4.3 4.4 4.0 3.5 2.6
150.00–174.90 1.3 2.8 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.0 0.7
175.00–199.90 1.3 2.7 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.0 0.8
200.00–224.90 1.3 2.5 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.0 0.9
225.00–249.90 1.4 2.6 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1
250.00–274.90 1.6 3.2 1.5 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.2
275.00–299.90 1.8 3.7 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.3
300.00–324.90 1.8 3.6 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.5
325.00–349.90 1.8 3.4 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.5
350.00–374.90 1.9 3.2 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.5
375.00–399.90 1.9 3.1 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.6
400.00–424.90 1.8 2.9 1.6 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6
425.00–449.90 1.8 2.8 1.5 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.8
450.00–474.90 1.8 2.6 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.0
475.00–499.90 1.9 2.5 1.5 1.9 2.0 2.0 2.0
500.00–524.90 1.9 2.4 1.5 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.3
525.00–549.90 2.0 2.3 1.5 1.9 2.2 2.4 2.5
550.00–574.90 2.0 2.4 1.5 2.0 2.3 2.6 3.1
575.00–599.90 2.2 2.3 1.5 2.0 2.4 2.9 4.0
600.00–624.90 2.4 2.2 1.6 2.2 2.6 3.2 5.0
625.00–649.90 2.8 2.1 1.6 2.3 3.3 4.4 6.7
650.00–674.90 3.3 2.0 1.6 2.4 4.2 6.9 8.3
675.00–699.90 3.5 1.9 1.6 2.6 4.8 7.8 7.2
700.00–724.90 3.5 2.2 1.9 3.3 5.0 7.1 4.5
725.00–749.90 3.5 3.0 2.3 3.7 5.0 5.1 3.2
750.00–774.90 3.3 3.1 2.4 3.9 4.5 3.2 2.8
775.00–799.90 3.1 3.0 2.5 3.9 4.0 2.4 2.7
800.00–824.90 3.0 2.9 2.5 3.9 3.6 2.2 2.6
825.00–849.90 2.9 2.7 2.5 3.8 3.1 2.0 2.6
850.00–874.90 2.6 2.4 2.4 3.1 2.5 2.2 2.9
875.00–899.90 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.7
900.00–924.90 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.5
925.00–949.90 1.9 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.3
950.00–974.90 1.7 0.9 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.8 2.1
975.00–999.90 1.5 0.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7
1,000.00–1,024.90 1.6 0.4 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.3
1,025.00–1,049.90 1.6 0.3 2.2 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.0
1,050.00–1,074.90 1.6 0.2 2.4 1.6 1.3 1.1 0.7
1,075.00–1,099.90 1.5 0.2 2.4 1.5 1.2 0.9 0.5
1,100.00–1,124.90 1.4 0.1 2.4 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.4
1,125.00–1,149.90 1.4 0.1 2.4 1.3 0.9 0.6 0.4
1,150.00–1,174.90 1.3 (L) 2.4 1.3 0.8 0.5 0.3
1,175.00–1,199.90 1.3 (L) 2.5 1.2 0.7 0.4 0.2
1,200.00 or more 8.7 (L) 17.8 7.8 3.3 1.6 1.5
Average benefit (dollars) 706.49 482.04 800.57 706.12 669.74 655.45 658.03
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
(L) = Less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F4 Number of children and total monthly benefits, by type of benefit, December 1940–2016, selected years
Year Number of children of— Total monthly benefits (in thousands of dollars) for children of—
All workers Retired workers Deceased workers Disabled workers All workers Retired workers Deceased workers Disabled workers
  Total
1957 1,502,077 179,697 1,322,380 . . . 57,951 3,932 54,019 . . .
1960 2,000,451 268,168 1,576,802 155,481 93,276 7,576 81,003 4,697
1965 3,092,659 460,781 2,074,263 557,615 159,428 14,736 127,067 17,627
1970 4,122,305 545,708 2,687,997 888,600 279,845 24,473 221,041 34,330
1980 4,606,517 638,711 2,609,920 1,357,886 864,242 89,386 625,090 149,766
1990 3,187,010 422,200 1,776,013 988,797 991,628 109,497 720,206 161,926
1995 3,734,097 441,600 1,883,643 1,408,854 1,283,288 141,974 882,837 258,477
2000 3,802,863 458,951 1,878,007 1,465,905 1,547,808 181,177 1,033,055 333,575
2001 3,839,381 467,064 1,890,156 1,482,161 1,624,285 192,727 1,078,886 352,672
2002 3,910,256 476,684 1,907,899 1,525,673 1,692,471 203,265 1,115,415 373,791
2003 3,960,909 480,033 1,909,983 1,570,893 1,763,910 213,230 1,151,907 398,773
2004 3,986,319 482,894 1,904,631 1,598,794 1,838,926 224,538 1,190,871 423,518
2005 4,024,815 488,425 1,903,477 1,632,913 1,945,508 240,777 1,249,328 455,402
2006 4,040,530 489,940 1,898,862 1,651,728 2,031,723 253,820 1,298,187 479,716
2007 4,050,691 494,296 1,891,706 1,664,689 2,095,892 265,936 1,332,248 497,708
2008 4,131,594 525,197 1,914,524 1,691,873 2,262,489 298,072 1,427,099 537,318
2009 4,230,578 561,451 1,921,148 1,747,979 2,311,770 320,237 1,435,847 555,686
2010 4,312,554 579,859 1,912,789 1,819,906 2,351,759 334,405 1,437,963 579,391
2011 4,375,451 594,355 1,907,336 1,873,760 2,470,586 358,189 1,493,713 618,685
2012 4,419,404 612,256 1,907,096 1,900,052 2,540,605 378,036 1,523,923 638,646
2013 4,412,620 625,339 1,898,904 1,888,377 2,585,288 395,300 1,545,335 644,653
2014 4,355,214 635,496 1,892,099 1,827,619 2,621,075 411,405 1,571,821 637,848
2015 4,296,691 648,530 1,892,885 1,755,276 2,613,041 422,191 1,575,147 615,703
2016 4,221,557 661,944 1,892,959 1,666,654 2,612,266 434,777 1,585,244 592,245
  Children under age 18
1940 54,648 6,410 48,238 . . . 668 62 606 . . .
1950 699,703 46,241 653,462 . . . 19,366 788 18,578 . . .
1960 1,896,397 214,343 1,529,535 152,519 88,682 5,654 78,446 4,582
1965 2,688,592 339,507 1,816,888 532,197 135,432 9,598 109,392 16,442
1970 3,314,578 354,373 2,161,094 799,111 215,366 13,367 172,499 29,500
1980 3,423,081 354,797 1,883,438 1,184,846 607,574 40,548 443,097 123,930
1990 2,497,252 236,051 1,333,690 927,511 739,787 53,944 538,546 147,296
1995 2,956,482 241,756 1,386,111 1,328,615 943,028 69,312 637,326 236,390
2000 2,976,406 255,908 1,346,091 1,374,407 1,120,977 92,987 724,567 303,423
2001 2,993,852 262,509 1,345,986 1,385,357 1,172,169 100,320 752,216 319,633
2002 3,043,029 270,231 1,350,533 1,422,265 1,218,610 107,298 773,661 337,652
2003 3,080,308 273,646 1,345,029 1,461,633 1,268,682 113,784 795,476 359,422
2004 3,104,055 277,195 1,338,920 1,487,940 1,325,370 121,320 821,844 382,206
2005 3,129,506 281,634 1,331,531 1,516,341 1,399,043 131,142 858,135 409,766
2006 3,133,398 282,281 1,320,862 1,530,255 1,455,066 138,296 886,393 430,377
2007 3,119,523 281,848 1,302,665 1,535,010 1,487,902 143,616 900,537 443,748
2008 3,118,230 285,944 1,280,182 1,552,104 1,576,703 156,733 944,058 475,912
2009 3,158,138 301,132 1,258,817 1,598,189 1,592,358 167,672 934,400 490,286
2010 3,208,791 309,512 1,239,083 1,660,196 1,609,289 174,383 925,590 509,316
2011 3,245,279 314,970 1,224,280 1,706,029 1,680,127 185,255 952,543 542,328
2012 3,258,426 321,534 1,213,164 1,723,728 1,711,882 193,294 961,500 557,088
2013 3,236,746 325,846 1,200,282 1,710,618 1,728,766 200,324 967,270 561,172
2014 3,166,362 327,665 1,188,333 1,650,364 1,734,880 205,850 976,089 552,941
2015 3,095,718 330,546 1,185,282 1,579,890 1,712,387 208,106 972,772 531,509
2016 3,006,839 333,993 1,179,370 1,493,476 1,692,033 211,616 972,066 508,351
  Disabled adult children
1957 28,869 16,686 12,183 . . . 1,115 526 589 . . .
1960 104,054 53,825 47,267 2,962 4,594 1,922 2,557 115
1965 198,390 87,122 102,287 8,981 10,271 3,541 6,357 374
1970 270,557 101,341 154,921 14,295 19,807 5,755 13,290 761
1980 450,169 140,548 276,738 32,883 89,561 22,463 62,625 4,473
1990 600,480 173,941 389,385 37,154 217,201 51,879 156,725 8,597
1995 686,101 188,965 446,377 50,759 300,007 68,743 217,553 13,711
2000 728,689 191,584 480,351 56,754 377,647 83,098 276,072 18,478
2001 736,546 191,809 486,817 57,920 395,952 86,510 289,757 19,684
2002 744,529 192,085 492,985 59,459 409,813 89,114 299,946 20,754
2003 752,814 191,704 498,659 62,451 426,877 92,125 312,212 22,540
2004 759,264 191,285 503,242 64,737 446,134 95,744 326,042 24,349
2005 768,535 191,979 507,961 68,595 473,620 101,440 345,113 27,067
2006 776,596 192,122 512,596 71,878 498,891 106,512 362,902 29,477
2007 794,677 196,038 521,293 77,346 524,763 112,420 379,869 32,474
2008 871,466 221,943 564,735 84,788 594,115 130,201 426,482 37,432
2009 920,883 241,042 589,575 90,266 622,827 140,072 442,872 39,882
2010 949,200 250,262 601,420 97,518 644,297 146,946 454,155 43,196
2011 977,026 259,073 612,686 105,267 689,622 159,176 482,092 48,353
2012 1,006,676 269,799 624,472 112,405 725,285 170,231 502,718 52,336
2013 1,030,166 279,053 633,891 117,222 756,839 180,455 521,073 55,311
2014 1,048,879 287,762 641,497 119,620 787,838 191,001 539,405 57,432
2015 1,068,443 298,666 648,371 121,406 806,630 199,915 548,431 58,284
2016 1,085,262 308,529 654,531 122,202 826,828 208,772 559,023 59,033
  Students
1965 205,677 34,152 155,088 16,437 13,725 1,597 11,318 811
1970 537,170 89,994 371,982 75,194 44,672 5,351 35,252 4,069
1980 733,267 143,366 449,744 140,157 167,107 26,375 119,368 21,363
1990 89,278 12,208 52,938 24,132 34,641 3,673 24,935 6,033
1995 91,514 10,879 51,155 29,480 40,253 3,919 27,958 8,376
2000 97,768 11,459 51,565 34,744 49,184 5,092 32,417 11,674
2001 108,983 12,746 57,353 38,884 56,164 5,897 36,912 13,356
2002 122,698 14,368 64,381 43,949 64,048 6,854 41,808 15,386
2003 127,787 14,683 66,295 46,809 68,351 7,321 44,218 16,811
2004 123,000 14,414 62,469 46,117 67,422 7,474 42,985 16,963
2005 126,774 14,812 63,985 47,977 72,845 8,196 46,080 18,570
2006 130,536 15,537 65,404 49,595 77,766 9,012 48,892 19,862
2007 136,491 16,410 67,748 52,333 83,228 9,900 51,842 21,486
2008 141,898 17,310 69,607 54,981 91,670 11,138 56,559 23,973
2009 151,557 19,277 72,756 59,524 96,585 12,493 58,575 25,517
2010 154,563 20,085 72,286 62,192 98,173 13,076 58,217 26,879
2011 153,146 20,312 70,370 62,464 100,838 13,757 59,077 28,004
2012 154,302 20,923 69,460 63,919 103,437 14,511 59,705 29,221
2013 145,708 20,440 64,731 60,537 99,683 14,521 56,992 28,170
2014 139,973 20,069 62,269 57,635 98,356 14,555 56,326 27,475
2015 132,530 19,318 59,232 53,980 94,025 14,171 53,943 25,911
2016 129,456 19,422 59,058 50,976 93,405 14,389 54,155 24,861
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
. . . = not applicable.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F6 Average monthly benefit for survivors, by type of benefit, December 1940–2016, selected years (in dollars)
Year Widowed mothers and fathers Nondisabled Parents Children Disabled
Widows Widowers Total Under age 18 Disabled adult children Students Widows Widowers
1940 19.61 20.28 . . . 13.09 12.22 12.22 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1941 19.50 20.22 . . . 12.97 12.19 12.19 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1942 19.57 20.15 . . . 13.05 12.24 12.24 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1943 19.72 20.15 . . . 13.11 12.31 12.31 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1944 19.80 20.17 . . . 13.08 12.38 12.38 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1945 19.83 20.19 . . . 13.06 12.45 12.45 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1950 34.24 36.54 37.23 36.69 28.43 28.43 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1951 33.24 36.04 30.03 36.68 28.05 28.05 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1952 36.13 40.67 33.09 41.33 31.30 31.30 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1953 37.49 40.88 34.08 41.96 32.28 32.28 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1954 44.52 46.28 39.27 47.44 37.01 37.01 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1955 45.91 48.70 46.51 49.93 38.12 38.12 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1956 47.35 50.14 47.11 50.78 39.36 39.36 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1957 49.05 51.09 47.77 51.87 40.85 40.78 48.38 . . . . . . . . .
1958 50.53 51.91 48.84 52.83 42.10 41.98 49.63 . . . . . . . . .
1959 57.37 56.73 53.28 58.86 47.48 47.34 52.89 . . . . . . . . .
1960 59.29 57.69 53.81 60.31 51.37 51.29 54.10 . . . . . . . . .
1961 59.38 64.92 61.66 67.15 52.74 52.64 55.50 . . . . . . . . .
1962 59.38 65.88 62.12 68.18 53.57 53.47 55.99 . . . . . . . . .
1963 59.43 66.85 63.17 69.11 54.33 54.23 56.58 . . . . . . . . .
1964 59.40 67.85 63.49 70.05 54.99 54.87 57.27 . . . . . . . . .
1965 65.46 73.75 69.68 76.03 61.26 60.21 62.14 72.98 . . . . . .
1966 65.59 74.11 70.52 76.52 61.84 60.37 62.67 71.71 . . . . . .
1967 65.86 74.99 71.22 77.23 62.57 60.99 63.37 72.33 . . . . . .
1968 74.93 86.54 82.14 88.21 70.85 68.90 73.11 81.76 72.27 72.40
1969 75.06 87.48 83.08 88.96 71.10 69.11 73.77 81.93 71.02 66.50
1970 86.51 102.02 96.50 103.21 82.23 79.82 85.79 94.77 81.99 73.10
1971 95.61 113.57 106.13 114.26 90.94 88.12 95.03 104.80 90.11 83.10
1972 115.45 138.19 127.98 138.95 110.36 106.87 115.25 126.63 109.50 98.80
1973 118.20 157.40 146.70 140.60 111.70 108.20 116.20 128.50 111.20 101.70
1974 134.20 177.30 164.30 157.50 126.48 122.52 130.33 144.79 125.90 118.60
1975 147.25 193.92 178.27 171.86 139.40 135.00 142.26 157.81 137.70 128.10
1976 159.77 208.99 191.78 185.07 151.94 147.49 152.88 169.80 147.00 133.80
1977 173.80 224.30 177.10 198.30 a 165.70 a 161.50 a 163.60 a 183.10 156.20 131.60
1978 190.40 241.40 186.10 214.00 182.20 178.30 176.20 200.80 165.70 129.70
1979 212.60 269.80 209.00 238.70 205.60 201.70 195.90 226.60 180.80 133.40
1980 246.20 311.50 239.40 276.00 239.50 235.30 226.40 265.40 205.40 145.70
1981 276.70 349.80 266.80 310.40 270.90 265.70 254.00 301.70 227.20 158.80
1982 302.80 379.30 285.60 335.40 285.40 291.50 279.90 260.70 242.80 165.50
1983 308.70 397.10 295.70 349.80 298.00 307.20 289.00 233.40 251.10 166.20
1984 321.50 416.10 306.80 363.90 314.30 320.70 302.60 257.20 307.70 190.70
1985 332.50 434.00 317.80 378.20 330.50 332.60 315.50 360.80 316.60 191.80
1986 338.30 444.90 324.80 386.30 336.80 338.70 323.10 375.70 321.30 195.50
1987 352.70 468.90 340.60 407.30 352.40 353.90 340.00 400.10 335.60 202.30
1988 367.90 493.40 359.50 428.40 367.60 368.00 357.40 424.70 350.00 211.30
1989 387.60 522.60 382.00 453.50 384.90 384.30 378.10 447.90 368.90 223.60
1990 409.10 557.40 408.40 482.20 405.50 403.80 402.50 471.00 391.30 238.40
1991 424.10 584.50 428.00 506.10 420.10 417.00 421.50 486.20 409.40 260.60
1992 437.70 608.70 443.60 526.40 432.30 427.60 438.30 504.10 425.30 273.30
1993 448.40 631.70 461.50 547.20 443.10 437.00 453.70 515.00 436.90 286.20
1994 464.40 656.60 481.40 569.50 456.20 448.70 470.80 532.20 449.20 299.90
1995 477.90 681.20 500.20 590.80 468.70 459.80 487.40 546.50 461.50 307.60
1996 514.90 708.30 520.70 613.50 487.20 478.20 506.10 560.80 474.30 318.00
1997 532.00 732.50 534.50 635.70 500.00 490.10 521.30 569.60 483.90 326.90
1998 545.10 750.30 549.10 651.10 509.60 498.90 532.80 579.90 491.00 332.90
1999 565.70 776.10 572.40 673.90 526.30 515.00 550.40 595.80 503.90 340.30
2000 595.00 811.80 606.90 703.90 550.10 538.30 574.70 628.70 523.80 361.70
2001 620.80 842.50 636.80 728.60 570.80 558.90 595.20 643.60 541.20 374.80
2002 640.20 862.80 662.80 752.70 584.60 572.90 608.40 649.40 553.00 384.70
2003 663.70 889.50 697.70 779.20 603.10 591.40 626.10 667.00 569.10 400.80
2004 689.40 921.90 736.00 809.70 625.30 613.80 647.90 688.10 588.50 416.60
2005 724.50 968.40 785.30 850.60 656.30 644.50 679.40 720.20 615.50 441.50
2006 756.60 1,009.80 829.10 892.20 683.70 671.10 708.00 747.50 637.40 455.00
2007 781.80 1,042.60 864.50 918.00 704.30 691.30 728.70 765.20 652.70 468.80
2008 834.90 1,114.70 937.90 978.90 745.40 737.40 755.20 812.50 691.80 498.00
2009 841.60 1,125.90 961.50 987.80 747.40 742.30 751.20 805.10 691.50 497.30
2010 848.90 1,136.40 977.90 998.20 751.80 747.00 755.10 805.40 690.90 498.70
2011 883.54 1,187.53 1,027.72 1,044.74 783.14 778.04 786.85 839.52 714.29 515.31
2012 900.32 1,218.45 1,057.42 1,072.76 799.08 792.56 805.03 859.56 723.14 521.97
2013 917.69 1,247.51 1,084.19 1,094.20 813.80 805.87 822.02 880.44 729.33 526.48
2014 934.90 1,279.52 1,114.36 1,120.76 830.73 821.39 840.85 904.56 737.33 535.69
2015 939.94 1,290.58 1,126.02 1,133.46 832.14 820.71 845.86 910.71 732.84 534.44
2016 946.93 1,305.50 1,143.44 1,154.19 837.44 824.22 854.08 916.98 731.88 535.23
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
a. Estimated.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F7 Number and percentage distribution of survivors, by primary insurance amount and type of benefit, December 2016
Primary insurance amount (dollars) Widowed mothers and fathers Nondisabled widow(er)s Parents Disabled widow(er)s Children
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total 132,757 100.0 3,744,962 100.0 1,208 100.0 259,207 100.0 1,892,959 100.0
Less than 300.00 1,090 0.8 32,365 0.9 (X) (X) 1,605 0.6 36,616 1.9
300.00–349.90 615 0.5 12,441 0.3 (X) (X) 950 0.4 20,265 1.1
350.00–399.90 677 0.5 12,316 0.3 (X) (X) 1,048 0.4 20,943 1.1
400.00–449.90 826 0.6 26,274 0.7 (X) (X) 1,291 0.5 36,232 1.9
450.00–499.90 846 0.6 16,773 0.4 6 0.5 1,384 0.5 25,494 1.3
500.00–549.90 936 0.7 19,129 0.5 (X) (X) 1,447 0.6 27,997 1.5
550.00–599.90 1,019 0.8 22,606 0.6 (X) (X) 1,560 0.6 28,911 1.5
600.00–649.90 1,161 0.9 34,580 0.9 10 0.8 1,920 0.7 34,770 1.8
650.00–699.90 1,250 0.9 40,396 1.1 16 1.3 2,120 0.8 38,692 2.0
700.00–749.90 1,952 1.5 49,482 1.3 25 2.1 3,416 1.3 54,407 2.9
750.00–799.90 3,357 2.5 53,164 1.4 30 2.5 5,517 2.1 79,005 4.2
800.00–849.90 3,655 2.8 55,848 1.5 42 3.5 6,003 2.3 81,130 4.3
850.00–899.90 3,918 3.0 56,491 1.5 39 3.2 6,183 2.4 79,264 4.2
900.00–949.90 3,893 2.9 60,833 1.6 51 4.2 6,797 2.6 76,734 4.1
950.00–999.90 4,057 3.1 61,718 1.6 52 4.3 7,229 2.8 73,955 3.9
1,000.00–1,049.90 4,341 3.3 67,087 1.8 49 4.1 7,621 2.9 72,987 3.9
1,050.00–1,099.90 4,491 3.4 69,971 1.9 43 3.6 7,766 3.0 69,864 3.7
1,100.00–1,149.90 4,552 3.4 81,075 2.2 53 4.4 8,357 3.2 71,824 3.8
1,150.00–1,199.90 4,795 3.6 85,725 2.3 53 4.4 8,601 3.3 68,856 3.6
1,200.00–1,249.90 4,609 3.5 88,391 2.4 43 3.6 8,888 3.4 64,352 3.4
1,250.00–1,299.90 4,598 3.5 97,942 2.6 47 3.9 9,039 3.5 62,314 3.3
1,300.00–1,349.90 4,711 3.5 101,844 2.7 32 2.6 8,917 3.4 58,958 3.1
1,350.00–1,399.90 4,503 3.4 113,034 3.0 37 3.1 8,990 3.5 57,223 3.0
1,400.00–1,449.90 4,345 3.3 115,482 3.1 38 3.1 8,994 3.5 53,391 2.8
1,450.00–1,499.90 4,093 3.1 126,753 3.4 29 2.4 8,944 3.5 50,442 2.7
1,500.00–1,549.90 3,988 3.0 139,602 3.7 30 2.5 8,768 3.4 48,791 2.6
1,550.00–1,599.90 3,760 2.8 159,114 4.2 41 3.4 8,364 3.2 47,163 2.5
1,600.00–1,649.90 3,410 2.6 167,873 4.5 27 2.2 8,212 3.2 43,592 2.3
1,650.00–1,699.90 3,263 2.5 173,969 4.6 30 2.5 7,904 3.0 40,259 2.1
1,700.00–1,749.90 3,105 2.3 207,458 5.5 38 3.1 7,804 3.0 40,527 2.1
1,750.00–1,799.90 2,865 2.2 194,064 5.2 19 1.6 7,299 2.8 35,800 1.9
1,800.00–1,849.90 2,737 2.1 156,284 4.2 26 2.2 6,726 2.6 30,056 1.6
1,850.00–1,899.90 2,431 1.8 128,397 3.4 31 2.6 6,122 2.4 25,611 1.4
1,900.00–1,949.90 2,256 1.7 108,514 2.9 22 1.8 5,772 2.2 22,463 1.2
1,950.00–1,999.90 2,231 1.7 90,979 2.4 14 1.2 5,487 2.1 19,994 1.1
2,000.00–2,049.90 2,531 1.9 92,559 2.5 26 2.2 6,413 2.5 21,288 1.1
2,050.00–2,099.90 3,155 2.4 94,399 2.5 18 1.5 7,754 3.0 23,754 1.3
2,100.00–2,149.90 2,904 2.2 87,228 2.3 25 2.1 7,373 2.8 22,158 1.2
2,150.00–2,199.90 2,778 2.1 78,666 2.1 19 1.6 6,147 2.4 19,859 1.0
2,200.00–2,249.90 2,381 1.8 69,135 1.8 18 1.5 5,311 2.0 16,855 0.9
2,250.00–2,299.90 2,040 1.5 60,081 1.6 18 1.5 4,342 1.7 14,161 0.7
2,300.00–2,349.90 1,817 1.4 52,853 1.4 21 1.7 3,727 1.4 12,492 0.7
2,350.00–2,399.90 1,725 1.3 45,933 1.2 8 0.7 2,840 1.1 11,160 0.6
2,400.00–2,449.90 1,555 1.2 39,106 1.0 15 1.2 2,412 0.9 9,813 0.5
2,450.00–2,499.90 1,458 1.1 30,189 0.8 9 0.7 1,944 0.7 8,887 0.5
2,500.00–2,549.90 1,382 1.0 23,449 0.6 15 1.2 1,543 0.6 8,366 0.4
2,550.00–2,599.90 1,354 1.0 17,523 0.5 13 1.1 1,101 0.4 7,791 0.4
2,600.00 or more 3,341 2.5 25,867 0.7 20 1.7 1,255 0.5 17,493 0.9
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
(X) = suppressed to avoid disclosing information about particular individuals.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F8 Number of widow(er)s and total monthly benefits, by type of benefit, December 1950–2016
Year Total Nondisabled— Disabled widow(er)s
Widows Widowers
Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars)
1950 314,189 11,481 314,126 11,479 63 2 . . . . . .
1951 384,265 13,849 384,011 13,841 254 8 . . . . . .
1952 454,563 18,482 454,064 18,466 499 17 . . . . . .
1953 540,653 22,096 539,854 22,069 799 27 . . . . . .
1954 638,091 29,526 637,012 29,483 1,079 42 . . . . . .
1955 701,360 34,152 700,294 34,103 1,066 50 . . . . . .
1956 913,069 45,780 911,841 45,722 1,228 58 . . . . . .
1957 1,095,137 55,944 1,093,645 55,872 1,492 71 . . . . . .
1958 1,232,583 63,977 1,230,953 63,897 1,630 80 . . . . . .
1959 1,393,587 79,047 1,391,686 78,946 1,901 101 . . . . . .
1960 1,543,843 89,054 1,541,790 88,943 2,053 110 . . . . . .
1961 1,697,308 110,179 1,694,977 110,035 2,331 144 . . . . . .
1962 1,859,191 122,475 1,856,658 122,318 2,533 157 . . . . . .
1963 2,010,769 134,403 2,008,102 134,234 2,667 168 . . . . . .
1964 2,158,912 146,476 2,156,143 146,300 2,769 176 . . . . . .
1965 2,371,433 174,883 2,368,629 174,688 2,804 195 . . . . . .
1966 2,602,015 192,821 2,599,178 192,620 2,837 200 . . . . . .
1967 2,769,618 207,692 2,766,736 207,487 2,882 205 . . . . . .
1968 2,937,890 253,924 2,913,376 252,123 2,951 242 21,563 1,558
1969 3,091,710 269,799 3,049,177 266,741 3,064 255 39,469 2,803
1970 3,227,160 328,245 3,174,846 323,912 3,033 293 49,281 4,041
1971 3,366,304 380,963 3,306,528 375,528 3,033 322 56,743 5,113
1972 3,509,777 483,161 3,442,595 475,746 3,015 386 64,167 7,029
1973 3,656,353 571,654 3,574,458 562,441 3,126 459 78,769 8,754
1974 3,769,559 663,569 3,674,376 651,471 3,055 502 92,128 11,596
1975 3,888,705 747,902 3,776,090 732,269 3,104 553 109,511 15,080
1976 3,994,380 827,325 3,871,894 809,181 3,059 587 119,427 17,557
1977 4,119,487 914,738 3,980,324 892,764 11,887 2,105 127,276 19,869
1978 4,211,710 1,005,929 4,066,673 981,615 15,287 2,845 129,751 21,469
1979 4,321,496 1,153,272 4,173,745 1,126,089 17,918 3,745 129,833 23,438
1980 4,410,515 1,358,836 4,262,607 1,327,814 20,328 4,866 127,580 26,156
1981 4,507,941 1,560,103 4,363,708 1,526,511 22,643 6,042 121,590 27,550
1982 4,594,961 1,724,392 4,453,575 1,689,073 25,014 7,144 116,372 28,175
1983 4,693,791 1,844,798 4,554,414 1,808,647 27,786 8,216 111,591 27,935
1984 4,779,190 1,973,203 4,640,805 1,930,807 29,234 8,970 109,151 33,426
1985 4,862,805 2,094,003 4,725,618 2,050,678 30,182 9,592 107,005 33,734
1986 4,928,019 2,175,345 4,789,969 2,131,049 31,076 10,092 106,974 34,204
1987 4,983,846 2,318,747 4,846,135 2,272,557 31,429 10,703 106,282 35,487
1988 5,028,822 2,461,945 4,892,829 2,414,239 32,870 11,816 103,123 35,892
1989 5,070,873 2,629,728 4,935,911 2,579,726 33,332 12,731 101,630 37,270
1990 5,111,482 2,827,012 4,976,420 2,773,818 34,073 13,916 100,989 39,278
1991 5,158,383 2,989,385 5,008,789 2,927,768 35,105 15,024 114,489 46,593
1992 5,205,375 3,138,250 5,037,583 3,066,568 36,468 16,178 131,324 55,504
1993 5,224,279 3,264,849 5,039,874 3,183,768 37,390 17,255 147,015 63,826
1994 5,232,379 3,394,982 5,034,219 3,305,229 37,484 18,043 160,676 71,710
1995 5,225,519 3,514,262 5,014,991 3,416,203 37,504 18,759 173,024 79,300
1996 5,209,812 3,639,632 4,990,079 3,534,268 37,822 19,692 181,911 85,671
1997 5,053,442 3,646,898 4,829,456 3,537,348 36,048 19,268 187,938 90,282
1998 4,989,855 3,685,349 4,759,829 3,571,047 35,845 19,683 194,181 94,619
1999 4,943,915 3,774,601 4,709,091 3,654,598 36,029 20,624 198,795 99,380
2000 4,901,437 3,912,527 4,663,228 3,785,532 36,782 22,322 201,427 104,674
2001 4,828,327 3,997,687 4,586,677 3,864,251 37,407 23,822 204,243 109,615
2002 4,770,638 4,043,051 4,524,020 3,903,384 39,260 26,020 207,358 113,648
2003 4,707,215 4,110,963 4,456,446 3,964,035 41,410 28,892 209,359 118,035
2004 4,643,035 4,200,895 4,388,305 4,045,712 43,995 32,379 210,735 122,803
2005 4,568,991 4,339,977 4,310,330 4,174,318 45,660 35,856 213,001 129,804
2006 4,493,620 4,445,576 4,225,561 4,267,017 47,881 39,700 220,178 138,859
2007 4,436,338 4,526,864 4,160,409 4,337,586 50,947 44,045 224,982 145,233
2008 4,380,164 4,773,510 4,094,903 4,564,447 55,254 51,821 230,007 157,243
2009 4,326,976 4,757,157 4,030,494 4,538,025 60,002 57,695 236,480 161,437
2010 4,285,913 4,748,771 3,975,424 4,517,797 65,536 64,086 244,953 166,888
2011 4,239,078 4,901,142 3,916,765 4,651,268 71,302 73,278 251,011 176,596
2012 4,193,431 4,967,481 3,860,506 4,703,820 77,453 81,901 255,472 181,760
2013 4,138,924 5,013,184 3,798,108 4,738,188 83,568 90,604 257,248 184,392
2014 4,092,402 5,078,097 3,743,788 4,790,260 90,743 101,120 257,871 186,717
2015 4,049,705 5,061,912 3,691,010 4,763,538 99,364 111,885 259,331 186,488
2016 4,004,169 5,057,697 3,637,690 4,749,017 107,272 122,660 259,207 186,020
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
. . . = not applicable.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F9 Number, percentage, and average monthly benefit, by year of entitlement as nondisabled widow(er), December 2016
Year of entitlement Number Percentage distribution Cumulative percentage a Average monthly benefit (dollars)
Total 3,744,962 100.0 . . . 1,300.86
2016 258,000 6.9 6.9 1,353.34
2015 275,065 7.3 14.2 1,352.28
2014 254,964 6.8 21.0 1,360.34
2013 237,860 6.4 27.4 1,365.52
2012 214,321 5.7 33.1 1,355.72
2011 194,773 5.2 38.3 1,353.73
2010 177,347 4.7 43.1 1,368.12
2009 167,669 4.5 47.5 1,366.11
2008 155,000 4.1 51.7 1,359.80
2007 141,925 3.8 55.5 1,348.09
2006 126,480 3.4 58.8 1,336.47
2005 120,279 3.2 62.0 1,323.38
2004 117,115 3.1 65.2 1,318.20
2003 113,658 3.0 68.2 1,307.95
2002 106,056 2.8 71.0 1,288.94
2001 99,427 2.7 73.7 1,272.84
2000 94,781 2.5 76.2 1,262.83
1999 88,770 2.4 78.6 1,245.42
1998 83,110 2.2 80.8 1,231.92
1997 77,157 2.1 82.9 1,217.90
1996 72,968 1.9 84.8 1,210.06
1995 68,962 1.8 86.7 1,203.30
1994 64,845 1.7 88.4 1,191.98
1993 59,722 1.6 90.0 1,181.58
1992 55,806 1.5 91.5 1,165.33
1991 50,286 1.3 92.8 1,147.27
1990 45,913 1.2 94.1 1,131.13
1989 40,233 1.1 95.1 1,117.69
1988 35,937 1.0 96.1 1,095.93
1987 31,256 0.8 96.9 1,083.88
1986 26,501 0.7 97.6 1,068.12
1985 21,953 0.6 98.2 1,049.25
1984 17,908 0.5 98.7 1,030.99
1983 14,476 0.4 99.1 1,013.48
1982 10,818 0.3 99.4 1,007.50
1981 8,128 0.2 99.6 982.35
1980 5,552 0.1 99.7 963.15
1979 3,635 0.1 99.8 944.22
1978 2,296 0.1 99.9 935.04
Before 1978 4,010 0.1 100.0 867.33
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Because entitlements can be awarded retroactively, data for current and prior years are subject to revision with each annual update of this table.
Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Represents those entitled in specified year or later.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F10 Number, percentage, and average monthly benefit, by year of entitlement as disabled widow(er), December 2016
Year of entitlement Number Percentage distribution Cumulative percentage a Average monthly benefit (dollars)
Total 259,207 100.0 . . . 717.65
2016 15,138 5.8 5.8 683.87
2015 23,913 9.2 15.1 687.67
2014 25,926 10.0 25.1 694.10
2013 26,776 10.3 35.4 695.31
2012 26,720 10.3 45.7 706.56
2011 26,260 10.1 55.8 717.32
2010 24,769 9.6 65.4 727.75
2009 20,563 7.9 73.3 728.69
2008 17,045 6.6 79.9 744.67
2007 13,621 5.3 85.2 737.07
2006 10,707 4.1 89.3 740.67
2005 8,580 3.3 92.6 744.44
2004 7,060 2.7 95.3 766.39
2003 5,390 2.1 97.4 771.09
2002 4,068 1.6 99.0 784.95
2001 2,671 1.0 100.0 776.63
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Because entitlements can be awarded retroactively, data for current and prior years are subject to revision with each annual update of this table.
Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Represents those entitled in specified year or later.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F11 Percentage distribution of nondisabled widow(er)s, by monthly benefit and age, December 2016
Monthly benefit (dollars) Total, 60 or older 60–61 62–64 65–69 70–74 75–79 80–84 85–89 90 or older
Total  
Number 3,744,962 118,042 316,089 692,300 513,026 510,390 558,335 550,688 486,092
Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Less than 300.00 1.8 2.5 3.0 1.6 1.7 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.2
300.00–349.90 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8
350.00–399.90 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0
400.00–449.90 0.9 1.0 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.1
450.00–499.90 1.0 1.2 1.0 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.2
500.00–549.90 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4
550.00–599.90 1.5 2.5 1.8 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5
600.00–649.90 1.8 2.7 2.2 1.4 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7
650.00–699.90 1.9 2.9 2.3 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.9
700.00–749.90 2.0 3.0 2.5 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.0
750.00–799.90 2.1 3.2 2.7 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.1
800.00–849.90 2.4 3.2 2.8 2.0 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.6
850.00–899.90 2.4 3.4 2.9 2.1 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.7
900.00–949.90 2.7 3.5 3.1 2.3 2.2 2.5 2.7 2.7 3.1
950.00–999.90 2.9 3.7 3.2 2.4 2.4 2.7 3.0 3.0 3.4
1,000.00–1,049.90 3.0 3.7 3.4 2.6 2.5 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.5
1,050.00–1,099.90 3.3 3.8 3.5 2.8 2.7 3.1 3.4 3.5 3.9
1,100.00–1,149.90 3.5 3.9 3.7 2.9 2.8 3.3 3.8 4.1 4.4
1,150.00–1,199.90 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.1 3.0 3.6 4.1 4.7 5.0
1,200.00–1,249.90 4.3 3.9 3.7 3.3 3.3 4.2 5.1 5.4 4.9
1,250.00–1,299.90 4.6 3.8 3.7 3.4 3.6 4.8 5.6 5.3 5.9
1,300.00–1,349.90 4.4 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.6 4.7 5.1 5.0 5.7
1,350.00–1,399.90 4.3 3.3 3.6 3.5 3.6 4.6 4.6 5.2 5.2
1,400.00–1,449.90 4.4 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.6 5.2 6.1 4.4
1,450.00–1,499.90 4.4 3.8 3.9 4.0 4.2 4.5 5.2 5.4 3.7
1,500.00–1,549.90 4.0 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.5 3.8 3.0
1,550.00–1,599.90 3.7 4.4 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.8 3.6 3.0 3.0
1,600.00–1,649.90 3.4 3.8 3.8 4.0 3.9 3.3 2.8 2.8 2.9
1,650.00–1,699.90 3.2 3.3 3.6 4.0 3.9 2.9 2.4 2.7 2.6
1,700.00–1,749.90 3.0 2.8 3.4 3.9 3.8 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.3
1,750.00–1,799.90 2.7 2.3 2.9 3.5 3.2 2.6 2.2 2.1 2.0
1,800.00–1,849.90 2.2 2.0 2.7 3.1 2.7 2.2 1.8 1.6 1.4
1,850.00–1,899.90 1.8 1.5 2.1 2.6 2.4 1.9 1.4 1.3 1.2
1,900.00–1,949.90 1.5 1.1 1.5 2.2 2.2 1.6 1.1 1.0 1.0
1,950.00–1,999.90 1.3 0.6 1.1 2.0 2.0 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.8
2,000.00–2,049.90 1.1 0.3 0.8 1.9 1.8 1.2 0.7 0.6 0.7
2,050.00–2,099.90 0.9 0.1 0.6 1.8 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5
2,100.00–2,149.90 0.8 (L) 0.5 1.5 1.3 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.5
2,150.00–2,199.90 0.7 (L) 0.3 1.2 1.2 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.4
2,200.00–2,249.90 0.6 (L) 0.2 1.1 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.4
2,250.00–2,299.90 0.5 (L) 0.1 0.9 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3
2,300.00–2,349.90 0.4 (L) 0.1 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3
2,350.00–2,399.90 0.3 (L) 0.1 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3
2,400.00–2,449.90 0.3 (L) (L) 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
2,450.00–2,499.90 0.2 (L) (L) 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
2,500.00–2,549.90 0.2 (L) (L) 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2
2,550.00–2,599.90 0.1 (L) (L) 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2
2,600.00 or more 0.6 (L) (L) 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.4
Average benefit (dollars) 1,300.86 1,163.24 1,227.66 1,408.70 1,378.79 1,289.75 1,254.93 1,260.60 1,256.09
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTES: Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
(L) = less than 0.05 percent.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F12 Number of widowed and surviving divorced mothers and fathers and total monthly benefits, by type of benefit, December 1950–2016, selected years
Year Total Widowed Surviving divorced
Subtotal With at least 1 child under age 16 a Entitled solely because of at least 1 disabled child b
Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars) Number Total monthly benefits (thousands of dollars)
1950 169,438 5,801 169,426 5,800 169,426 5,800 . . . . . . 12 c
1955 291,916 13,403 291,656 13,389 291,656 13,389 . . . . . . 260 14
1960 401,358 23,795 400,976 23,768 394,560 23,383 6,416 385 382 27
1965 471,816 30,882 471,286 30,842 461,011 30,132 10,275 710 530 40
1970 523,136 45,258 521,698 45,127 510,215 44,039 11,483 1,089 1,438 131
1971 535,126 51,163 533,560 51,055 520,301 49,603 13,259 1,402 1,566 158
1972 540,965 62,457 539,153 62,237 526,548 60,612 12,605 1,625 1,812 220
1973 571,907 67,578 565,327 66,823 551,509 64,985 13,818 1,838 6,580 754
1974 573,506 76,980 562,801 75,605 544,335 72,914 18,466 2,692 10,705 1,374
1975 581,845 85,676 565,941 83,435 544,886 80,068 21,075 3,366 15,904 2,241
1976 578,727 92,466 558,933 89,400 537,002 85,637 21,931 3,764 19,794 3,065
1977 583,195 101,345 558,886 97,227 536,481 93,091 22,405 4,136 24,309 4,117
1978 576,343 109,714 548,463 104,506 525,879 100,028 22,584 4,478 27,880 5,209
1979 573,750 121,957 541,480 115,284 518,564 110,235 22,916 5,049 32,270 6,674
1980 562,316 138,426 525,661 129,754 502,639 123,885 23,022 5,869 36,655 8,671
1981 547,593 151,509 507,777 140,990 484,427 134,299 23,350 6,691 39,816 10,518
1982 514,772 155,876 474,003 144,207 451,159 137,068 22,844 7,139 40,769 11,669
1983 400,298 123,559 363,946 112,979 339,367 104,956 24,579 8,022 36,352 10,581
1984 382,411 122,957 346,319 112,002 318,076 102,391 28,243 9,612 36,092 10,995
1985 371,659 123,557 335,085 112,117 306,004 101,812 29,081 10,304 36,574 11,440
1986 350,546 118,602 315,572 107,470 286,290 96,887 29,282 10,583 34,974 11,132
1987 340,940 115,967 307,581 104,888 278,582 93,871 28,999 11,017 33,359 11,079
1988 317,761 116,902 285,265 105,596 256,463 94,096 28,802 11,500 32,496 11,306
1989 312,079 120,970 280,006 109,184 251,646 97,170 28,360 12,014 32,073 11,786
1990 303,923 124,340 272,526 112,103 244,965 99,683 27,561 12,420 31,397 12,237
1991 300,661 127,510 269,679 114,962 242,379 102,085 27,300 12,877 30,982 12,548
1992 294,716 128,748 263,630 115,884 236,990 102,840 26,640 13,045 30,546 12,864
1993 289,350 129,752 259,320 116,771 232,794 103,365 26,526 13,407 30,030 12,981
1994 283,072 131,463 253,928 118,399 227,709 104,658 26,219 13,741 29,144 13,064
1995 275,020 131,430 247,113 118,550 221,494 104,664 25,619 13,886 27,907 12,881
1996 242,135 124,678 218,171 112,627 193,664 98,799 24,507 13,828 23,964 12,051
1997 230,222 122,488 207,658 110,774 184,184 97,120 23,474 13,654 22,564 11,714
1998 220,610 120,247 199,447 109,001 176,660 95,491 22,787 13,510 21,163 11,246
1999 212,401 120,157 192,544 109,195 170,572 95,732 21,972 13,463 19,857 10,962
2000 203,052 120,812 184,397 109,941 164,420 97,063 19,977 12,878 18,655 10,871
2001 197,375 122,526 179,413 111,539 160,186 98,672 19,227 12,867 17,962 10,987
2002 194,117 124,267 176,447 113,097 158,020 100,413 18,427 12,685 17,670 11,170
2003 190,252 126,278 172,955 114,914 154,990 102,158 17,965 12,756 17,297 11,364
2004 183,829 126,734 167,234 115,343 150,681 103,150 16,553 12,193 16,595 11,391
2005 178,396 129,246 162,455 117,756 146,228 105,212 16,227 12,544 15,941 11,490
2006 171,453 129,721 156,304 118,314 140,615 105,653 15,689 12,661 15,149 11,407
2007 164,665 128,742 150,214 117,471 135,146 104,935 15,068 12,536 14,451 11,271
2008 159,610 133,261 145,640 121,615 130,954 108,544 14,686 13,071 13,970 11,646
2009 159,870 134,547 145,784 122,724 130,564 109,017 15,220 13,707 14,086 11,823
2010 158,061 134,179 144,365 122,638 129,239 108,817 15,126 13,821 13,696 11,541
2011 157,516 139,172 143,483 126,884 128,025 112,181 15,458 14,703 14,033 12,288
2012 153,628 138,315 140,253 126,437 125,292 111,830 14,961 14,607 13,375 11,878
2013 149,778 137,450 136,713 125,617 121,846 110,740 14,867 14,877 13,065 11,833
2014 142,509 133,232 130,121 121,726 115,698 106,967 14,423 14,759 12,388 11,506
2015 139,719 131,328 127,648 120,063 113,220 105,153 14,428 14,910 12,071 11,265
2016 132,757 125,711 121,291 114,865 107,088 99,997 14,203 14,869 11,466 10,846
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
a. Prior to August 1981, benefits were payable to mothers and fathers caring for a child under age 18. For mothers and fathers caring for a child who was at least age 14 and who were entitled in August 1981, benefits were continued until the child attained age 18 or September 1983, whichever came earlier.
b. Excludes mothers and fathers who had both disabled and nondisabled entitled children in their care.
c. Less than $500.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.
Table 5.F13 Number and average monthly benefit for nondisabled widows aged 65 or older, by age, reduction status, and limitation of benefit, December 2016
Age Number Average monthly benefit (dollars) Benefits not reduced due to early retirement of widow Benefits reduced due to early retirement of widow
Number Average monthly benefit (dollars) Benefits not limited due to early retirement of deceased spouse Benefits limited due to early retirement of deceased spouse
Number Average monthly benefit (dollars) Number Average monthly benefit (dollars) Number Average monthly benefit (dollars)
All nondisabled widows aged 65 or older 3,245,331 1,314.91 1,439,525 1,390.91 671,149 1,565.04 768,376 1,238.81 a 1,805,806 1,254.33
65–69 648,493 1,415.63 84,641 1,707.63 62,021 1,804.61 22,620 1,441.73 563,852 1,371.80
65 117,742 1,292.64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117,742 1,292.64
66 130,073 1,420.84 14,163 1,757.29 11,444 1,823.57 2,719 1,478.33 115,910 1,379.73
67 131,217 1,444.41 20,202 1,728.80 15,418 1,810.96 4,784 1,464.03 111,015 1,392.66
68 130,578 1,454.49 22,991 1,703.50 16,547 1,809.29 6,444 1,431.85 107,587 1,401.28
69 138,883 1,451.29 27,285 1,669.66 18,612 1,783.54 8,673 1,425.30 111,598 1,397.90
70–74 503,690 1,382.27 132,636 1,509.34 73,465 1,631.78 59,171 1,357.31 371,054 1,336.85
70 104,231 1,409.10 21,265 1,588.82 13,282 1,717.29 7,983 1,375.07 82,966 1,363.03
71 91,944 1,377.71 21,056 1,514.14 11,980 1,638.13 9,076 1,350.46 70,888 1,337.18
72 97,037 1,377.12 25,288 1,503.27 13,956 1,625.50 11,332 1,352.75 71,749 1,332.65
73 104,838 1,382.05 30,664 1,501.30 16,488 1,615.36 14,176 1,368.64 74,174 1,332.74
74 105,640 1,364.73 34,363 1,468.84 17,759 1,583.74 16,604 1,345.94 71,277 1,314.55
75–79 505,587 1,292.64 218,653 1,388.22 104,185 1,496.94 114,468 1,289.26 286,934 1,219.80
75 98,515 1,330.94 35,951 1,433.75 17,589 1,542.38 18,362 1,329.69 62,564 1,271.86
76 99,404 1,308.90 39,599 1,409.05 19,368 1,509.48 20,231 1,312.91 59,805 1,242.58
77 100,330 1,290.96 44,543 1,386.17 21,282 1,497.70 23,261 1,284.12 55,787 1,214.94
78 103,760 1,273.10 47,966 1,371.07 22,766 1,475.96 25,200 1,276.31 55,794 1,188.87
79 103,578 1,261.80 50,594 1,357.63 23,180 1,471.91 27,414 1,261.00 52,984 1,170.29
80–84 554,903 1,257.55 309,312 1,349.64 136,886 1,495.40 172,426 1,233.92 245,591 1,141.56
80 107,639 1,255.90 54,898 1,345.91 24,730 1,474.72 30,168 1,240.32 52,741 1,162.20
81 111,183 1,255.35 59,246 1,347.92 26,637 1,484.63 32,609 1,236.25 51,937 1,149.75
82 112,933 1,260.87 62,757 1,355.35 28,098 1,501.66 34,659 1,236.73 50,176 1,142.71
83 109,435 1,257.74 63,686 1,350.38 28,153 1,501.82 35,533 1,230.40 45,749 1,128.77
84 113,713 1,257.78 68,725 1,348.21 29,268 1,510.52 39,457 1,227.81 44,988 1,119.63
85–89 548,184 1,262.87 353,564 1,349.97 148,750 1,533.34 204,814 1,216.79 194,620 1,104.64
85 114,574 1,263.96 71,179 1,353.60 30,146 1,526.34 41,033 1,226.69 43,395 1,116.92
86 117,231 1,265.74 74,400 1,353.42 31,304 1,531.15 43,096 1,224.33 42,831 1,113.43
87 110,733 1,265.05 71,618 1,350.91 30,115 1,534.17 41,503 1,217.93 39,115 1,107.84
88 105,594 1,260.10 69,585 1,345.72 29,169 1,534.37 40,416 1,209.56 36,009 1,094.64
89 100,052 1,258.78 66,782 1,345.67 28,016 1,541.38 38,766 1,204.24 33,270 1,084.35
90 or older 484,474 1,257.89 340,719 1,347.80 145,842 1,575.86 194,877 1,177.13 143,755 1,044.77
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Master Beneficiary Record, 100 percent data.
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
a. Includes 131,732 widows with benefits also limited due to early retirement of deceased spouse.
CONTACT: (410) 965-0090 or statistics@ssa.gov.