General Discussion

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

33. 'average' doesn't imply half get more, half get less, that would specifically be the 'median'.

Sat Oct 26, 2013, 08:18 PM

Oct 2013

It's apparent they are using the 'arithmetic mean' for the $1,230. figure, since that's what they are using in this table:

http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot/

which lists the 'average' SS OASI benefit of $1,203.72 (46,630,000 recipients, $56,129,000,000 in payments,
arithmetic mean payment: $1,203.72) for August 2013. The number that half the recipients get more than, half
get less than, is the 'median' which isn't specified. We don't know how close the median would be to the arithmetic
mean without knowing the distribution of the payments (if the distribution were a bell shaped curve for example -it
isn't for SS payments- the median and the arithmetic mean would be the same).

More on wage distribution and the mean vs median:
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/central.html

Mean, median vs mode: http://www.purplemath.com/modules/meanmode.htm

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

66 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Average monthly benefit for retirees on Social Security $1,230. [View all] nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 OP

Chained CPI makes good sense because we know that in the future DURHAM D Oct 2013 #1

This is THE NUMBER that people should have in mind nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #3

Most could use an extra thousand a month for a quality of life Cleita Oct 2013 #2

Well you agree with that commie Bernie Sanders I see nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #5

... Cleita Oct 2013 #12

A one-time 100% COLA increase on our SS.... Buddha_of_Wisdom Oct 2013 #27

$2200 is almost the top of the mark.......$2533. Historic NY Oct 2013 #29

At the very least cap should be raised nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #32

How about we chain Congressional salary to average income? Downwinder Oct 2013 #4

You mean this? nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #6

Sadly So Many Don"t Get One Grand A Month grilled onions Oct 2013 #7

Average means exactly that nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #9

That's not what average means. Thank you for demonstrating the biggest problem we have Egalitarian Thug Oct 2013 #14

I get Social Security disability Buddha_of_Wisdom Oct 2013 #28

And your edit shows that ..... oldhippie Oct 2013 #30

'average' doesn't imply half get more, half get less, that would specifically be the 'median'. PoliticAverse Oct 2013 #33

You might want to argue with Social Security nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #35

that is because when one uses average one typically means the mean dsc Oct 2013 #36

As I said somewhere else nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #37

there is nothing to argue with. The SS administration is using the mean, not the median magical thyme Oct 2013 #38

And they are using the word average nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #40

they are using the word average as a synonym for mean magical thyme Oct 2013 #49

Which is the point I have been making to the grammar police nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #52

You appear to be the only one confused muriel_volestrangler Oct 2013 #54

It's not a matter of grammer, it is a matter of right and wrong, that's math. Egalitarian Thug Oct 2013 #56

The SSA is using average as a synonym to mean. tammywammy Oct 2013 #57

At least the grammar police don't show up to your door snooper2 Oct 2013 #61

Average means nothing like that. Dreamer Tatum Oct 2013 #55

Much too late oldhippie Oct 2013 #59

Copying. Brickbat Oct 2013 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author BKLawyer Oct 2013 #64

I receive a over $1400 and after Medicare deduction RebelOne Oct 2013 #8

I know, and if you live in places with high cost of living nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #10

I live in Georgia, and the cost of living is low RebelOne Oct 2013 #26

Mine's $300 a month less. hobbit709 Oct 2013 #11

That is why the number is average nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #13

hi Nadin! I think you're running up against the difference between average and median. hedgehog Oct 2013 #17

I am using the colloquial defintion of the term nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #18

I think the important point is that some earn above average, and others below average! hedgehog Oct 2013 #21

Agreed nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #23

regardless of how *you* are using the term, the SS administration is using the word average magical thyme Oct 2013 #39

Did I miss the word *average* in the SS site? nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #41

Yes, but average does not mean that half make over and half make under Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #42

The SS system does not use mean nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #44

It's not semantics - your math is wrong Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #47

Go argue with the SS administration. nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #48

No they do not mean "average" as a synonum for "median" magical thyme Oct 2013 #50

No they aren't using the word average that way. tammywammy Oct 2013 #58

It should be pretty obvious by now ..... oldhippie Oct 2013 #60

I think it's called... sweetapogee Oct 2013 #62

.... Liberal_in_LA Oct 2013 #45

I think instead of discussing chained CPI, we need to address the reality that for many (most?) hedgehog Oct 2013 #15

Agreed. nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #16

Total or near total, and that number will keep increasing. Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #43

I know several who get less grasswire Oct 2013 #19

Thank you for that example - I knew it was true, but didn't have the numbers! hedgehog Oct 2013 #22

When you have policy makers not even knowing that base number nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #24

Chained CPI > BAD handmade34 Oct 2013 #20

Gotta cut entitlements 'cause that was the Simpson-Bowles answer to all that ails us, surely indepat Oct 2013 #25

Mine is six hundred a month easttexaslefty Oct 2013 #31

As to the President's specific chained CPI proposal, you can find it here... PoliticAverse Oct 2013 #34

i get a little over 750 a month madrchsod Oct 2013 #46

Time To Mount A "Lift The Cap" Campaign...... global1 Oct 2013 #51

Yup, said as much on my blog. nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #53

Two things ... BKLawyer Oct 2013 #65

1.- eliminate the cap, agreed nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #66