Social Security at 75: Building Economic Security, Narrowing the Racial Wealth Divide
Figure 1- Poverty Rates for Groups by Social Security Benefit Receipt, Race and Ethnicity, 1997 70%
61%
60% 50%
59%
40%
34%
30%
24%
20%
10%
56%
48%
20% 12%
8%
8%
0% White
Black
Native American
In Poverty with Social Security
Asian
Hispanic Origin
In Poverty without Social Security
Source: Office of Policy, Social Security Administration, Tabulations of March 1998 Current Population Survey Data.
Figure 2 - Use of Social Security by Beneficiary Type and Race/Ethnicity Whites
Blacks
Retirement
“Other�
Survivor
Disability
15% 30%
11% 74%
30%
43%
55% 15%
27%
Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Supplement, Table 5A1, 2008
Figure 3 – 2009 Median Weekly Earnings of Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers by Race/Ethnicity and Gender 1000 900 800 700 600 Current 500 Dollars 400 300 200 100 0
952 779
845 669
Asian
White Men
621 582
Black Women
569
509
Hispanic
Source: US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009, Table 6 .
Figure 4 - Children Receiving Benefits by Type of Benefit and Race, SSA 2008
60%
49%
50%
39%
40% 30%
24%
10% 0%
22%
17%
20%
3%
1% Caucasian Retirement
22% 3%
Black Survivor
Other Disability
Source: Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Supplement , Table 5A1, 2008.