Social Security provides an important source of support to many minority families in the United States, despite misleading claims that the program shortchanges these groups. In fact, the program's progressive benefit structure and universal nature make it a key support for groups with lower average wages, limited access to private retirement savings vehicles, and higher disability rates.

While African-Americans comprise 12 percent of the population, they were 13 percent of all survivor beneficiaries, and 18 percent of all disability recipients in 2002. African American children are 20 percent of all retired worker child beneficiaries, 23 percent of all child survivor beneficiaries, and 21 percent of all disabled worker child recipients. (See Social Security Administration data here.)

The main argument repeated about African-Americans and Social Security is that a shorter average lifespan decreases their share of benefits. Yet that argument conveniently ignores other factors which increase Social Security benefits for African-Americans, such as higher disability rates, more survivors, and lower average wages. Comprehensive studies have found virtually no difference in Social Security's return for African Americans compared with other races.

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