The 2012 Long-Term Projections for Social Security: Additional Information

"Social Security is the federal government’s largest single program.1 Of the 56 million people who currently receive Social Security benefits, about 70 percent are retired workers or their spouses and children, and another 11 percent are survivors of deceased workers; all of those beneficiaries receive payments through Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI). The other 19 percent of beneficiaries are disabled workers or their spouses and children; they receive Disability Insurance (DI) benefits. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that in fiscal year 2012, Social Security’s outlays totaled $773 billion, one-fifth of federal spending; OASI payments accounted for about 82 percent of those outlays, and DI payments made up about 18 percent..."
2012 Long-Term Projections for Social Security