With the freshly announced 3.6% COLA increrase, the first since 2009,this information about Social Security is interesting.
—Beneficiaries: 55 million
—Retired workers: 35 million
—Disabled workers: 8.5 million
—Spouses and children: 5 million
—Widows, widowers and surviving children: 6.3 million
—Total benefits to be paid in 2011: $727 billion
—Average monthly payment in August: $1,082
—Average monthly increase next year: $39
—Number of workers who will pay into Social Security next year: 161 million
—Maximum wages subject to Social Security tax this year: $106,800
—Maximum wages subject to Social Security tax next year: $110,100
—Number of workers who will get a tax increase: 10 million
—Maximum tax increase: $205, paid by both worker and employer
Source: Social Security Administration.