2012 Social Security Disability Insurance Program Costs $135 Billion

During 2012, the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program paid out about $135 billion in benefits to 10.9 million disabled non-elderly workers (8.8 million) and dependents (about 2.1 million), 24% more than the $102 billion in program revenues from payroll taxes. The deficit was attributed to rising numbers of disabled worker beneficiaries with chronic disabilities, such as mental illnesses that have low mortality rates; and to program and economic factors that encourage disabled workers to receive SSDI benefits rather than seek competitive employment. The 2012 deficit was covered by the SSDI trust fund, but at the . . .