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In March 1998, 43,939,700 persons received Social Security benefits, an increase of 293,400 (0.7 percent) since March 1997. Sixty-two percent were retired workers (27,250,700) and 11 percent were nondisabled widows and widowers (4,809,600).

As the attached chart indicates, when disabled widows and widowers, widowed mothers and fathers, and parents are included, the total number of widows and widowers was 5,217,600.

5,447,300 beneficiaries were receiving payments on the basis of disability--4,551,400 disabled workers, 706,200 disabled adult children, and 189,800 disabled widows and widowers. In addition 201,600 spouses and 1,404,800 minor and student children of disabled workers were receiving benefits.

Seventy-two percent of the total were aged 65 or older (31,736,000), and another 8.8 percent were age 62-64 (3,848,100). Another 6.8 percent were children under age 18 (2,969,600).

Benefit payments from Social Security Trust Funds in March were $31.1 billion--$27.1 billion for OASI and $4.0 billion for DI.

Average monthly benefits for March were $766 for retired workers, $721 for disabled workers, and $733 for nondisabled widows and widowers.

In March, 362,200 monthly benefits were awarded, including 150,700 to retired workers and 55,400 to disabled workers. Awards from January 1998 to date were 1,084,500--500,800 retired worker and 148,800 disabled worker.

Benefit awards during calendar year 1997 totalled 3,866,000--1,718,600 retired worker and 587,400 disabled worker.