Newly available figures on Social Security recipients by congressional district have been posted on the Techpolitics web site in interactive tables, with links to maps on the FairData site:
http://congress.techpolitics.org (top right column). The Social Security Administration posted the data on its web site last week in individual state tables following our request. Congressional district data had been sent to House Members for their own districts, but the information for all districts in the country apparently was not readily available.
In 244 congressional districts, Social Security recipients of voting age are 20 percent or greater of the voting age population. For congressional districts represented by Republicans, social security recipients eighteen and older make up at least 20 percent of the voting age population in 153 districts. Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) represents a district where Social Security recipients over 18 (some children receive benefits) are nearly 40 percent of the voting age population.
The page with the Social Security recipients by district links to a second page which puts the district Social Security figures next to individual votes on the tax cut bill last May. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's recent comments suggesting cutting Social Security benefits for future retirees has been followed by a debate juxtaposing tax cuts for those with high incomes against Social Security benefit reductions. Seven of the 8 districts with the highest percentage of Social Security recipients, and 11 of the top 15, are represented by Republicans who voted for the tax cut bill.
A third table linked to the first provides figures by congressional district for the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). The dollar amounts by congressional district for both Social Security and SSI are available, though not included in these tables.
