Social Security Essentials - New Mexico
Compiled February 2005 by the Economic Policy Institute

With a debate raging over the future of Social Security, it's time to look at some of the facts about what it means for New Mexico.

Social Security is Important to New Mexico

• Number of People receiving Social Security: 294,669
• Percentage of total New Mexico population receiving Social Security benefits: 16%
• Total federal government Social Security payments made into New Mexico: $2.6 billion
• Percentage of New Mexico personal income from Social Security: 5.7%

Social Security Helps Retirees

• Number of people receiving Social Security retirement benefits in New Mexico, including spouses and eligible children of retirees: 199,580
• Percentage of those age 65 and over receiving Social Security benefits: 89%
• Percentage of New Mexico Socialty Security beneficiaries that receive disability benefits (the rest receive retirement and surviviors benefits): 17%

Social Security Helps Widows, Widowers and Their Families

• Number of people in New Mexico receiving Social Security survivors benefits, including spouses and children of deceased workers: 45,035
• Percentage of New Mexico Social Security beneficiaries that receive survivors benefits (the rest receive retirement and disability benefits): 15%

Social Security Helps Children

• Number of New Mexico children under age 18 receiving Social Security: 23,940
• Percent of all New Mexico beneficiaries that are children: 8%