Editing Social Security (United States) (section)

=== Benefit types ===
The Social Security program in the United States pays benefits to three broad categories of individuals: retired individuals and some family members, disabled persons and some family members, and survivors. Within these broad categories, the program defines more specific types of beneficiaries. For example, spouses and divorced spouses are distinct categories, with somewhat different eligibility requirements. Survivor benefits include several categories including aged widow(er)s, aged surviving divorced spouses, disabled widow(er)s, disabled surviving divorced spouses, paternal and maternal orphans, and widow(er)s caring for minor or disabled children.

As of 2023, there were about 66.8 million individuals receiving Social Security benefits.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Social Security benefits, September 2023 | url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot/2023-09.pdf | website=ssa.gov}}</ref> Individuals receiving Retirement Insurance Benefits constitute the largest group of beneficiaries, with 52.4 million retired workers or family members receiving monthly payments. Social Security Disability Insurance benefits were paid to 7.4 million disabled workers and 1.2 million dependents (children and spouses). About 5.8 million individuals, including 2 million children, received some type of survivor benefit from Social Security.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aarp.org/social-security/survivor-benefits-eligibility-checklist/|title=Social Security Survivor Benefits: 10 Things Spouses Need to Know}}</ref>

Some individuals qualify for more than one type of benefit, but program rules on dual entitlement generally prevent the payment of two full benefits. For example, a person eligible for a retirement benefit and a higher spouse benefit will receive the full retirement benefit and a partial spouse benefit. The dual entitlement rules disproportionately affect women (7 million women in 2022<ref>{{Cite web | title=Annual Statistical Supplement, 2023 – Summary of OASDI Benefits in Current-Payment Status (5.A) | url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2023/5a.html#table5.a15 | access-date=2023-11-14 | website=Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis | language=en}}</ref>) because historically they have earned less than current or former husbands and this leads to retirement benefits for women that are often lower than the full spouse benefit for which they qualify.

In addition, Social Security beneficiaries with low income and limited resources may qualify for additional income through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSI is separate from the Social Security program, but it is administered by SSA. In 2022, 2.5 million Social Security beneficiaries received additional income through SSI.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Annual Statistical Supplement, 2023 – Interprogram Data (3.C) | url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2023/3c.html#table3.c6 | access-date=2023-11-14 | website=Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis | language=en}}</ref>