Children Receiving SSI, 2006

Table 2. Number and percentage distribution of SSI applications received, by age, 1973–2006
Year All ages a Under 18 18–64 65 or older
Number Percentage
of total		 Number Percentage
of total		 Number Percentage
of total
Total 59,723,740 8,548,333 14.3 41,089,040 68.8 10,086,367 16.9
State conversions b 3,402,474 3,939 0.1 1,419,041 41.7 1,979,494 58.2
Federal applications
1973 282,472 5,007 1.8 82,993 29.4 194,472 68.8
1974 2,069,452 125,028 6.0 1,098,373 53.1 846,051 40.9
1975 1,468,610 99,996 6.8 977,209 66.5 391,405 26.7
1976 1,207,448 83,960 7.0 865,790 71.7 257,698 21.3
1977 1,268,462 95,314 7.5 903,618 71.2 269,530 21.2
1978 1,265,436 99,610 7.9 902,756 71.3 263,070 20.8
1979 1,323,113 106,828 8.1 949,087 71.7 267,198 20.2
1980 1,408,034 114,508 8.1 1,013,221 72.0 280,305 19.9
1981 1,148,844 94,246 8.2 864,481 75.2 190,117 16.5
1982 1,015,848 93,872 9.2 775,491 76.3 146,485 14.4
1983 1,131,890 101,087 8.9 834,190 73.7 196,613 17.4
1984 1,264,820 104,748 8.3 868,375 68.7 291,697 23.1
1985 1,399,869 119,021 8.5 1,049,758 75.0 231,090 16.5
1986 1,467,326 124,938 8.5 1,098,832 74.9 243,556 16.6
1987 1,435,024 126,575 8.8 1,069,285 74.5 239,164 16.7
1988 1,365,117 125,953 9.2 1,013,316 74.2 225,848 16.5
1989 1,388,545 130,307 9.4 1,015,483 73.1 242,755 17.5
1990 1,547,230 166,416 10.8 1,133,564 73.3 247,250 16.0
1991 1,807,821 248,325 13.7 1,315,918 72.8 243,578 13.5
1992 2,087,788 378,808 18.1 1,465,039 70.2 243,941 11.7
1993 2,310,005 503,486 21.8 1,571,203 68.0 235,316 10.2
1994 2,260,271 540,124 23.9 1,517,140 67.1 203,007 9.0
1995 2,055,907 500,333 24.3 1,375,696 66.9 179,878 8.7
1996 1,922,472 465,685 24.2 1,289,985 67.1 166,802 8.7
1997 1,601,970 336,074 21.0 1,133,623 70.8 132,273 8.3
1998 1,629,223 339,243 20.8 1,139,825 70.0 150,155 9.2
1999 1,661,448 350,382 21.1 1,153,450 69.4 157,616 9.5
2000 1,744,386 360,329 20.7 1,224,826 70.2 159,231 9.1
2001 1,861,123 376,002 20.2 1,324,057 71.1 161,064 8.7
2002 2,084,828 414,068 19.9 1,490,731 71.5 180,029 8.6
2003 2,224,739 437,492 19.7 1,608,391 72.3 178,856 8.0
2004 2,418,096 458,236 19.0 1,771,003 73.2 188,857 7.8
2005 2,545,079 458,588 18.0 1,850,002 72.7 236,489 9.3
2006 2,648,570 459,805 17.4 1,923,288 72.6 265,477 10.0
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record (Characteristic Extract Record format), 100 percent data.
a. Totals include applications taken under the abbreviated application process, which was used from 1987 to 1999. Totals do not include reapplications as a result of the Sullivan v. Zebley decision. Those reapplications were received from 1991 to 1995.
b. Persons who were converted to the SSI program in 1973 from the state Old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled programs.
CONTACT: Clark Pickett (410) 965-9016 or ssi.children@ssa.gov.