The average Social Security disability benefits payout this year amounts to $1,277. According to the Social Security Administration, it paid out this amount to the average disabled worker as well as dependant in December 2020.
Overall, according to data by the Social Security Administration, a total of 8.2 million disabled workers received benefits in 2020, totalling more than $10.5 billion in benefits to disabled workers. Approximately 1.5 million dependants of disabled workers received benefits during this time, totalling 600 million dollars paid out to dependants. Overall, the Social Security Administration paid out more than a trillion dollars in benefits during the period, paying more than 65 million beneficiaries.
Disabled workers, however, did not receive the majority of Social Security benefits. They accounted for 13.8 percent of benefits. Retired workers received a majority of benefits, accounting for more than 74 percent of benefits paid out.
The Social Security Administration further estimates that approximately 25 percent of workers who are currently 20 years old will suffer a disability that makes it impossible for them to work full time before they reach the age of 67. Among covered workers between the age of 21 and 64, approximately 90 percent have coverage for disability protection, while close to 70 percent of workers in the private sector have no long-term protection against disability.
Disability benefits are paid under the Social Security Disability Insurance program, which pays out benefits based not on the severity of the condition, but the taxes that you have already paid into the system as a worker.