Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Beneficiaries

Methodology

OASDI beneficiary data are derived from the Social Security Administration’s
Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), which includes only beneficiaries whose benefits were currently payable.
Monthly benefit amounts reflect payments for December, after any applicable reductions.

State and county designations are assigned by SSA using the U.S. Postal Service
ZIP+4 file. For beneficiaries with representative payees
(approximately 2% of adults and most children under age 18), geographic classification
reflects the location of the representative payee.

ZCTA-level data are produced by CARES using the most recent OASDI ZIP Code–level data
and converted to ZCTAs based on the 2022 crosswalk table from the
Uniform Data System (UDS), maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CARES applies a Small Area Estimation method to generate report-area
estimates from ZCTA-level data. Trend data are not available for geographies below the
county level due to boundary changes over time.

U.S. totals are calculated by aggregating state-level estimates for the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

To protect confidentiality, the data source applies a
controlled rounding procedure to county- and ZIP Code–level counts.
Corresponding dollar amounts are proportionally adjusted, while state totals remain unrounded.
Data are not reported for ZIP Codes with fewer than 15 beneficiaries.

For additional information, see

OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County, 2024

and

OASDI Beneficiaries by State and ZIP Code, 2024
.