$ 778 billion -- Expected amount that Social Security will pay out in benefits in 2012 . 222,488 -- Number receiving Social Security benefits in 1940 , less than 1 % of the population . 56 million -- Number receiving Social Security benefits in 2011 , about 18 % of the population . Comment: 40,000 -- People who claimed SSN 078-05-1120 after finding it on a sample wallet insert .
222,488 -- Number receiving Social Security benefits in 1940 , less than 1 % of the population . 56 million -- Number receiving Social Security benefits in 2011 , about 18 % of the population . Comment: 40,000 -- People who claimed SSN 078-05-1120 after finding it on a sample wallet insert .