Can Social Security Benefits Only Be Collected By Retired Workers?

Is Social Security just for retired workers

Far from it. While retirees account for more than 73 percent of the people receiving Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) also makes payments to: More than 2.7 million , and of retirees. More than 5.8 million widows and widowers, former spouses, children and (occasionally) parents of . Disabled persons of all ages and their spouses and children. (SSDI) goes to about 7.7 million disabled workers and more than 1.2 million members of their families. Here are a few more key Social Security stats as of September 2022: Some 65.8 million people are drawing retirement, disability, family or survivor benefits totaling $101.8 billion a month. More than 3.8 million of them are the children of retired, disabled or deceased workers. The SSA pays out nearly $3 billion a month in child benefits. Nearly 7.6 million people receive (SSI), a program run by Social Security that provides cash assistance to older, blind and disabled people with very low incomes. More than 2.3 million people age 65 and over receive SSI.

Keep in mind

You must have spent a in work in which you to qualify for retirement benefits or SSDI. That's not the case with SSI — is based on financial need and your age or medical condition. It's possible to receive , if you qualify for both. More than 2.5 million people did in September 2022. Updated October 13, 2022

More on Social Security Eligibility

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