Baby boomers (people born from 1946 through 1964) are starting to turn 60. As they leave the work force and enter retirement during the next 15 to 20 years, North Dakota likely will see a significant increase in Social Security income.

This month's ""Economic Brief,"" a monthly publication from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University, focuses on Social Security in North Dakota, which includes beneficiaries, annual payments and average monthly benefits.

In 2005, the number of Social Security beneficiaries in North Dakota totaled 115,260. Retired workers and their dependents accounted for 71 percent of these beneficiaries and received $780 million in payments. Disabled workers and their dependents represented 12 percent of all beneficiaries and received $137 million. Survivors consisted of 17 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries and received $257 million. The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker in North Dakota was $935 in 2005, an increase of 5 percent from 2000, after adjusting for inflation.

Population projections suggest that, due to aging baby boomers, the number of people age 65 and older will increase by more than 50 percent during the next 15 years. Since the majority of Social Security beneficiaries are retired workers, annual Social Security payments to North Dakotans likely will increase significantly during the next few decades.

Current economic simulation modeling indicates that the surge in elderly will translate into a corresponding increase of $429 million in Social Security payments, before adjusting for inflation.

""The dramatic rise in seniors in our state will have important consequences, not only in the redistribution of income, but also on the state's labor force and the demand on infrastructure and services,"" says Richard Rathge, State Data Center director.

NDSU Agriculture Communication