Social Security Administration Annual Statistical Supplement, 2012 [released February 2013]

• “About 55.4 million persons received Social Security benefits for December 2011, an increase of 1,372,512 (2.5 percent) since December 2010. Sixty-nine percent were retired workers and their spouses and children, 11 percent were survivors of deceased workers, and 19 percent were disabled workers and their spouses and children.
• Seventy-four percent of the 35.6 million retired workers received reduced benefits because of entitlement prior to full retirement age. Relatively more women (76.4 percent) than men (71.3 percent) received reduced benefits.
• The number of beneficiaries aged 65 or older rose from about 34.5 million in 2006 to more than 38.2 million in 2011 (10.9 percent). The number of beneficiaries aged 85 or older increased at a greater rate during the 5-year period (14.5 percent), from fewer than 4.7 million in 2006 to more than 5.3 million in 2011. In 2011, about 53,000 centenarians were receiving Social Security.”