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{{short description|Independent agency of the U.S. federal government}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = United States<br>Social Security Administration
| seal            = US-SocialSecurityAdmin-Seal.svg
| seal_size       = 150
| seal_caption    = [[Seal (emblem)|Seal]]
| logo            = Flag of the United States Social Security Administration.svg
| logo_caption    = Flag
| formed          = {{start date and age|1935|8|14}}
| preceding1      = 
| dissolved       = 
| superseding     = 
| jurisdiction    = [[Federal government of the United States]]
| headquarters    = [[Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland|Woodlawn, Maryland]], U.S.
| employees       = 60,000
| budget          = $1.3 trillion (FY 2022)<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/budget/FY23Files/2023BO.pdf|title=Fiscal Year 2023 President's Budget|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>
| chief1_name     = [[Frank Bisignano]]
| chief1_position = Commissioner
| keydocument1    = {{USC|42|901}}
| website         = {{URL|ssa.gov}}
}}

The '''United States Social Security Administration''' ('''SSA''')<ref>(SSA Pub. No 25-1556 p. 7)</ref> is an [[Independent agencies of the United States government|independent agency]] of the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]] that administers [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], a [[social insurance]] program consisting of [[retirement]], [[disability]] and survivor benefits. 
The Social Security Administration was established by the [[Social Security Act of 1935]] and is codified in {{usc|42|901}} ({{usstat|49|635}}). It was created in 1935 as the "Social Security Board", then assumed its present name in 1946. Its current leader is Commissioner [[Frank Bisignano]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=Social Security warning issued over benefits "interruption" |url=https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-warning-issued-benefits-interruption-2032594 |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>

SSA offers its services to the public through 1,200 field offices, a website, and a national toll-free number. Field offices, which served 43 million individuals in 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Testimony by Grace Kim, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Social Security Administration, before the Senate Committee on Finance, on Service Delivery|url=https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/testimony_042921.html|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> were reopened on April 7, 2022 after being closed for two years due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#4-2022-1|title=Statement of Kilolo Kijakazi|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

SSA is headquartered in [[Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland|Woodlawn, Maryland]], just to the west of [[Baltimore]], at what is known as Central Office. In addition to its 1,200 field offices, the agency includes 10 regional offices, eight processing centers, and 37 Teleservice Centers. {{As of|2018}}, about 60,000 people were employed by SSA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Other SSA Sites |url=http://www.ssa.gov/otherssasites/ |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Social Security Administration}}</ref>Headquarters non-supervisory employees of SSA are represented by [[American Federation of Government Employees]] Local 1923.

SSA operates the largest government program in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57170|title=The Federal Budget in Fiscal Year 2020: An Infographic|website=www.cbo.gov}}</ref> In fiscal year (FY) 2022, the agency expects to pay out $1.2 trillion in Social Security benefits to 66 million individuals.<ref name="auto"/> In addition, SSA expects to pay $61 billion in SSI benefits to 7.5 million low-income individuals in FY 2022.

To qualify for most of these benefits, most workers pay [[Social Security tax]]es on their earnings; the claimant's benefits are based on the wage earner's contributions. Otherwise benefits such as [[Supplemental Security Income]] (SSI) are given based on need.

== History ==
[[File:Signing Of The Social Security Act.jpg|thumb|President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security Act of 1935]] (August 14, 1935).]]
The Social Security Act created a Social Security Board (SSB),<ref name="history">{{Cite web |last=Social Security Administration |title=Brief Graphic Organizational History |url=http://www.ssa.gov/history/orghist.html |access-date=2007-05-24 |publisher=U.S. Government}}</ref> to oversee the administration of the new program. It was created as part of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s [[New Deal]] with the signing of the [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security Act of 1935]] on August 14, 1935.<ref name="SSA Pub. No 25-1556 p. 15">(SSA Pub. No 25-1556 p. 15)</ref> The Board consisted of three presidentially appointed executives, and started with no budget, no staff, and no furniture. It obtained a temporary budget from the [[Federal Emergency Relief Administration]] headed by [[Harry Hopkins]].<ref name=history/> The first counsel for the new agency was [[Thomas Elliott (lawyer)|Thomas Elliott]], one of [[Felix Frankfurter]]'s "happy hot dogs".<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 October 1935 |title=Trenton Facts |page=21 |publisher=The Courier-News of Bridgewater, NJ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/220445136/ |access-date=18 August 2017}}; {{Cite news |last=Henning |first=Arthur Sears |date=4 October 1935 |title=New 'Hot Boss' Fears High Courts: Laws So 'Learned' They Defeat Purpose |page=21 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1935/12/22/page/4/article/new-deals-hot-dogs-fear-high-courts-rulings#text |access-date=18 August 2017}}; {{Cite journal |date=1936 |title=Inferiority Complex |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-0qAQAAMAA | journal =Review of Reviews |page=29 |access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref>

The first Social Security office opened in [[Austin, Texas]], on October 14, 1936. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Security History |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/aaustin.html |website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> Social Security taxes were first collected in January 1937, along with the first one-time, lump-sum payments.<ref name="SSA Pub. No 25-1556 p. 15" /> The first person to receive monthly retirement benefits was [[Ida May Fuller]] of [[Brattleboro, Vermont]]. Her first check, dated January 31, 1940, was in the amount of US$22.54.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Social Security Administration |title=The First Social Security Beneficiary |url=http://www.ssa.gov/history/imf.html |access-date=2007-05-24 |publisher=U.S. Government}}</ref>

In 1939, the Social Security Board merged into a [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]]-level [[Federal Security Agency]], which included the SSB, the [[U.S. Public Health Service]], the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], and other agencies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Social Security Administration |title=Special Collections Chronology: 1930 |url=http://www.ssa.gov/history/1930.html |access-date=2007-05-24 |publisher=U.S. Government}}</ref> In January 1940, the first regular ongoing monthly benefits began.<ref name="SSA Pub. No 25-1556 p. 15"/>In 1946, the SSB was renamed the Social Security Administration under President [[Harry S. Truman]]'s Reorganization Plan.

In 1953, the Federal Security Agency was abolished and SSA was placed under the [[Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]], which became the [[Department of Health and Human Services]] in 1980. In 1994, Congress amended [https://uscode.house.gov/codification/legislation.shtml non-positive law] {{usc|42|901}} and returned SSA to the status of an independent agency in the executive branch of government. In 1972, [[Cost of living|Cost of Living]] Adjustments (COLAs) were introduced into SSA programs to deal with the effects of [[inflation]] on [[fixed income]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information {{!}} Social Security Administration |url=https://www.ssa.gov/cola/ |access-date=2018-08-06 |website=www.ssa.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In 1960, the Supreme Court ruled in ''[[Flemming v. Nestor]]'' that the Social Security is not a system of 'accrued property rights' and that those who pay into the system have no contractual right to receive what they have paid into it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flemming v. Nestor, 363 U.S. 603 (1960) |url=https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/363/603/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2025, the Social Security Administration, under the Trump administration, falsely listed over 6,000 living immigrants in their database of dead people, which was a change implemented by acting commissioner [[Leland Dudek]] and Homeland Security Secretary [[Kristi Noem]], with the support of the [[Department of Government Efficiency]], reported ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name=Natanson>{{cite news |last1=Natanson |first1=Hannah |last2=Rein |first2=Lisa |last3=Kornfield |first3=Meryl |title=Trump administration overrode Social Security staff to list immigrants as dead |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/12/trump-immigrants-dead-social-security/ |access-date=April 13, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250413022823/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/12/trump-immigrants-dead-social-security/ |archive-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> The newspaper also reported that the Trump administration ejected Social Security Administration senior executive Greg Pearre from his office and put him on leave after he objected to the false listings as illegal and cruel.<ref name=Natanson/>

==Historical leadership==
{|class="toccolours"
|{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting capacity.}}
|}

===SSB chairs===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Security Board |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/boardmembers.html |website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
!class=unsortable |Image
!colspan=2 |Name
!Start
!End
!Notes
!colspan=2 |President
|-
|{{center|1}}
|[[File:John Gilbert Winant.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John|Winant|John Gilbert Winant}}
|{{dts|August 23, 1935}}
|{{dts|September 30, 1936}}
|<ref name="Winant">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/winantpro.html |title=John Gilbert Winant |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Franklin D.|Roosevelt}}<br>(1933–1945)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Social Security Administration Commissioner Arthur J. Altmeyer.gif|70px]]
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Arthur|Altmeyer|Arthur J. Altmeyer}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|September 30, 1936}}
|{{dts|November 16, 1936}}
|<ref name="Altmeyer">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/altmeyer.html |title=Arthur J. Altmeyer |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|{{center|1}}
|[[File:John Gilbert Winant.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John|Winant|John Gilbert Winant}}
|{{dts|November 16, 1936}}
|{{dts|February 19, 1937}}
|<ref name="Winant"/>
|-
|rowspan=2 |{{center|2}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Social Security Administration Commissioner Arthur J. Altmeyer.gif|70px]]
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Arthur|Altmeyer|Arthur J. Altmeyer}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|February 19, 1937}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 16, 1946}}
|rowspan=2 |<ref name="Altmeyer"/>
|-
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}<br>(1945–1953)
|}

===SSA commissioners===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Social Security History - Social Security Commissioners |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/commissioners.html |website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
!class=unsortable |Image
!colspan=2 |Name
!Start
!End
!Notes
!colspan=2 |President
|-
|rowspan=2 |{{center|1}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Social Security Administration Commissioner Arthur J. Altmeyer.gif|70px]]
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Arthur|Altmeyer|Arthur J. Altmeyer}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 16, 1946}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|April 10, 1953}}
|rowspan=2 |<ref name="Altmeyer"/>
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}<br>(1945–1953)
|-
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Dwight D.|Eisenhower}}<br>(1953–1961)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Social Security Administration Commissioner William L. Mitchell.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|William|Mitchell|dab=administrator}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|April 11, 1953}}
|{{dts|November 23, 1953}}
|<ref name="mitchell" />
|-
|{{center|2}}
|[[File:John W. Tramburg.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John|Tramburg|John W. Tramburg}}
|{{dts|November 24, 1953}}
|{{dts|July 31, 1954}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/tramburg.html |title=John W. Tramburg |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|{{center|3}}
|[[File:Charles I. Schottland.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Charles|Schottland|Charles I. Schottland}}
|{{dts|August 23, 1954}}
|{{dts|December 31, 1958}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/schott.html |title=Charles I. Schottland |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2 |{{center|4}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Social Security Administration Commissioner William L. Mitchell.gif|70px]]
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William|Mitchell|dab=administrator}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|February 4, 1959}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|April 3, 1962}}
|rowspan=2 |<ref name="mitchell">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/mitchell.html |title=William L. Mitchell |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|John F.|Kennedy}}<br>(1961–1963)
|-
|rowspan=3 |{{center|5}}
|rowspan=3 |[[File:Robert Ball.gif|70px]]
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Bob|Ball|Robert M. Ball}}
|rowspan=3 |{{dts|April 17, 1962}}
|rowspan=3 |{{dts|March 17, 1973}}
|rowspan=3 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/bobball.html |title=Robert M. Ball |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Lyndon B.|Johnson}}<br>(1963–1969)
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}}<br>(1969–1974)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Arthur Hess.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Arthur|Hess|Arthur E. Hess}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|March 18, 1973}}
|{{dts|October 24, 1973}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/arthess.html |title=Arthur E. Hess |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3 |{{center|6}}
|rowspan=3 |[[File:James B. Cardwell.gif|70px]]
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|James|Cardwell|James B. Cardwell}}
|rowspan=3 |{{dts|October 25, 1973}}
|rowspan=3 |{{dts|December 12, 1977}}
|rowspan=3 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/cardwell.html |title=James B. Cardwell |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}}<br>(1974–1977)
|-
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}}<br>(1977–1981)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Don I. Wortman.jpeg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Don|Wortman|Don I. Wortman}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|December 13, 1977}}
|{{dts|October 4, 1978}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/wortman.html |title=Don I. Wortman |publisher=SSA}}</ref> 
|-
|{{center|7}}
|[[File:Stanford G. Ross.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Stanford|Ross|Stanford G. Ross}}
|{{dts|October 5, 1978}}
|{{dts|December 31, 1979}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/ross.html |title=Stanford G. Ross |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Herbert R. Doggette, Jr.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Herb|Doggette}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|January 1, 1980}}
|{{dts|January 2, 1980}}
|<ref name="doggette"/>
|-
|{{center|8}}
|[[File:William J. Driver.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|William|Driver|William J. Driver (administrator)}}
|{{dts|January 3, 1980}}
|{{dts|January 19, 1981}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/driver.html |title=William J. Driver |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Herbert R. Doggette, Jr.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Herb|Doggette}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1981}}
|{{dts|May 5, 1981}}
|<ref name="doggette">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/doggette.html |title=Herbert R. Doggette, Jr. |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 bgcolor="#ffffff" |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}}<br>(1981–1989)
|-
|{{center|9}}
|[[File:John Svahn.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John|Svahn|John A. Svahn}}
|{{dts|May 6, 1981}}
|{{dts|September 12, 1983}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/svahn.html |title=John A. Svahn |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Martha A. McSteen.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Martha|McSteen}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|September 14, 1983}}
|{{dts|June 25, 1986}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/mcsteen.html |title=Martha A. McSteen |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2 |{{center|10}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Dorcas Hardy.gif|70px]]
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Dorcas|Hardy}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|June 26, 1986}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 31, 1989}}
|rowspan=2 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/hardy.html |title=Dorcas R. Hardy |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}}<br>(1989–1993)
|-
|{{center|11}}
|[[File:Gwendolyn S. King.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Gwendolyn|King}}
|{{dts|August 1, 1989}}
|{{dts|September 30, 1992}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/king.html |title=Gwendolyn S. King |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|rowspan=2 |{{center|–}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Louis D. Enoff.jpg|70px]]
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Lou|Enoff}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|October 1, 1992}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 18, 1993}}
|rowspan=2 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/enoff.html |title=Louis D. Enoff |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}<br>(1993–2001)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Lawrence H. Thompson.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Lawrence|Thompson|Lawrence H. Thompson}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|July 19, 1993}}
|{{dts|October 7, 1993}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/thompson.html |title=Lawrence H. Thompson |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|{{center|12}}
|[[File:Shirley Chater SSA Commissioner.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Shirley|Chater}}
|{{dts|October 8, 1993}}
|{{dts|February 28, 1997}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/chater.html |title=Shirley S. Chater |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:John J. Callahan.gif|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John|Callahan|John J. Callahan}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|March 1, 1997}}
|{{dts|September 28, 1997}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/callahan.html |title=John J. Callahan |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|{{center|13}}
|[[File:Kenneth Apfel.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Ken|Apfel|Kenneth S. Apfel}} 
|{{dts|September 29, 1997}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2001}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/apfel.html |title=Kenneth S. Apfel |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Bill Halter.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Bill|Halter}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|January 21, 2001}}
|{{dts|March 28, 2001}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/halter.html |title=William A. Halter |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 bgcolor="#ffffff" |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}<br>(2001–2009)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Larry G. Massanari.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Larry|Massanari}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|March 29, 2001}}
|{{dts|November 9, 2001}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/massanari.html |title=Larry G. Massanari |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|{{center|14}}
|[[File:JoAnneBarnhart.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Jo Anne|Barnhart|Jo Anne B. Barnhart}}
|{{dts|November 9, 2001}}
|{{dts|January 19, 2007}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/barnhart.html |title=Jo Anne B. Barnhart |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Acting Social Security Commissioner Linda McMahon.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|Linda McMahon<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2007}}
|{{dts|February 11, 2007}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/mcmahon.html |title=Linda S. McMahon |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2 |{{center|15}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:CommissionerAstrue.jpg|70px]]
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Michael|Astrue|Michael J. Astrue}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|February 12, 2007}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|January 19, 2013}}
|rowspan=2 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/astrue.html |title=Michael J. Astrue |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}<br>(2009–2017)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Carolyn Colvin official portrait.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Carolyn|Colvin}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|January 19, 2013}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2017}}
|<ref name="colvin"/>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Nancy Berryhill official photo.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Independent (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Nancy|Berryhill}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|January 21, 2017}}
|{{dts|June 17, 2019}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/berryhill.html |title=Nancy A. Berryhill |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 bgcolor="#ffffff" |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2017–2021)
|-
|rowspan=2 |{{center|16}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Andrew M. Saul official photo.jpg|70px]]
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Andrew|Saul}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|June 17, 2019}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 9, 2021}}
|rowspan=2 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/saul.html |title=Andrew M. Saul |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}<br>(2021–2025)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Kilolo Kijakazi.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Kilolo|Kijakazi}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|July 9, 2021}}
|{{dts|December 20, 2023}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/kijakazi.html |title=Kilolo Kijakazi |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|-
|{{center|17}}
|[[File:Martin O'Malley Social Security Administration portrait (1).jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Martin|O'Malley}}
|{{dts|December 20, 2023}}
|{{dts|November 29, 2024}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.ssa.gov/martin-j-omalley-sworn-in-as-commissioner-of-social-security-administration/ |title=Martin J. O'Malley Sworn in as Commissioner of Social Security Administration |date=December 20, 2023 |first=Jeffrey |last=Buckner |publisher=SSA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/people/2024/11/omalley-stepping-down-as-ssa-commissioner/ |title=O'Malley stepping down as SSA commissioner |first=Drew |last=Friedman |date=November 18, 2024 |work=[[WFED]]}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:CarolynColvin2024.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Carolyn|Colvin}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|November 30, 2024}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2025}}
|<ref name="colvin">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/colvin.html |title=Carolyn W. Colvin |publisher=SSA}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:SSA Acting Commissioner Michelle King.png|98x98px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Michelle|King|dab=government official}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2025}}
|{{dts|February 16, 2025}}
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/17/politics/social-security-head-steps-down-doge-access/index.html |title=Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information, sources say |date=February 18, 2025 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 bgcolor="#ffffff" |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2025–present)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|{{center|–}}
|[[File:Leland Dudek.png|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Leland|Dudek}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|February 16, 2025}}
|{{dts|May 7, 2025}}
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/who-is-leland-dudek-pro-doge-anti-fraud-expert-takes-over-as-ssa-chief-after-michelle-kings-exit/articleshow/118404751.cms |title=Who is Leland Dudek? Pro-DOGE 'anti-fraud expert' takes over as SSA chief after Michelle King's exit |date=Feb 20, 2025 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
|{{center|18}}
|[[File:Frank Bisignano for Wikipedia page.jpg|70px]]
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Frank|Bisignano}}
|{{dts|May 7, 2025}}
|Incumbent
|<ref>[https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2025/#2025-05-07 Social Security Administration Press Release]</ref>
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|}

== Headquarters ==
[[Image:Socialsecurityheadquarters.jpg|thumb|One part of SSA headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland]]
[[Image:Backsideofsocialsecurityadministrationheadquarters.jpg|thumb|right|Another view of SSA headquarters in Maryland]]

SSA was one of the first federal agencies to have its national headquarters outside of [[Washington, D.C.]], or its adjacent suburbs. It was located in [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] initially due to the need for a building that was capable of holding the unprecedented amount of paper records that would be needed. Nothing suitable was available in Washington in 1936, so the Social Security Board selected the Candler Building on Baltimore's [[Inner Harbor|harbor]] as a temporary location. Soon after locating there, construction began on a permanent building for SSA in Washington that would meet their requirements for record storage capacity. However, by the time the new building was completed, [[World War II]] had started, and the building was commandeered by the [[United States Department of War|War Department]]. By the time the war ended, it was judged too disruptive to relocate the agency to Washington. The Agency remained in the Candler Building until 1960, when it relocated to its newly built headquarters in Woodlawn.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Candler Building |url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/ssa/CandlerFactSheet.htm|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>
	
The road on which the headquarters is located, built especially for SSA, is named [[Maryland Route 122|Security Boulevard (Maryland Route 122)]] and has since become one of the major arteries connecting Baltimore with its western suburbs. Security Boulevard is also the name of SSA's exit from the nearby Baltimore Beltway ([[Interstate 695 (Maryland)|Interstate 695]]). A nearby [[shopping center]] has been named [[Security Square Mall]], and Woodlawn is often referred to informally as "Security." [[Interstate 70]], which runs for thousands of miles from [[Utah]] to [[Maryland]], terminates in a [[park and ride]] lot that adjoins the SSA campus.

Due to space constraints and ongoing renovations, many headquarters employees work in leased space throughout the Woodlawn area. Other SSA components are located elsewhere. For example, the headquarters (also known as Central Office) of SSA's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review is located in [[Falls Church, Virginia]].

== Field offices ==
SSA has a network of more than 1,200 community-based field offices. In fiscal year 2019, 43 million individuals visited these field offices to apply for benefits, get an original or replacement Social Security card, or receive other services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Testimony by Grace Kim, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Social Security Administration, before the Senate Committee on Finance, on Service Delivery |url=https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/testimony_042921.html|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> Field offices reopened in April 2022, after being closed for two years due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

SSA provides a field office locator service, where members of the public can find office phone numbers and addresses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Social Security Office Locator|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

SSA also provides services through a national toll-free number (1-800-772-1213) and a website. Retirement and disability benefits can be applied for online.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Online Services|url=https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> For survivor benefits, however, members of the public must call or visit SSA in person to apply. In most states, individuals seeking a replacement Social Security card can apply for one online.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Request a Replacement Social Security Number (SSN) Card Online|url=https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/replacement-card.html|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

Members of the public can also apply for [[Supplemental Security Income]] at SSA's field offices. Field office staff will also assist SSI applicants with an application for food assistance through the SNAP program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Facts |url=https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10101.pdf |website=Social Security Administration |date=2025 |access-date=15 June 2025}}</ref>

== Program Service Centers ==
[[Image:Horace Harding S 97th Pl td (2019-03-17) 09 - LeFrak City.jpg|thumb|right|The two buildings in the center, part of Lefrak City in Rego Park, Queens, housed the Northeastern Program Service Center until ...]]
[[Image:Social Security Bldg Archer Ave 20170102 113517 345.jpg|thumb|right|... it was moved to the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building in Jamaica, Queens, in the late 1980s.]]
[[Image:Richard Bolling Federal Building Kansas City MO.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|The Mid-America Program Service Center is housed in the Richard Bolling Federal Building in Kansas City, Missouri.]]

Much of the actual processing of initial benefits and subsequent adjustments to benefits is done in six large Program Service Centers located around the country.<ref name="poms-psc">{{cite web | url=https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201050051 | title=GN 01050.051 Who reviews and services claims | work=Program Operations Manual System (POMS) | publisher=Social Security Administration | date=May 25, 2018 | access-date=March 17, 2019}}</ref>

The two main positions in Program Service Centers have long been Claims Authorizers and Benefits Authorizers.<ref name="ssa-oh-mf"/><ref name="oh-caligiuri"/> Claims Authorizers, now sometimes called claims specialists, establish initial benefits for program recipients.<ref name="ssa-positions">{{cite web | url=https://www.ssa.gov/atlanta/southeast/hr/positsavail.htm | title=Positions Available at SSA | publisher=Social Security Administration | access-date=March 17, 2019}}</ref> Benefits Authorizers process complicated changes of entitlements to existing beneficiaries, including life events, overpayments, underpayments, and so forth.<ref name="ssa-positions"/><ref name="oh-caligiuri"/> The claims position is the higher-ranking of the two and initially required a college degree whereas the post-entitlement position did not.<ref name="oh-caligiuri"/> For decades, post-entitlement actions have been processed through a system known as Manual Adjustment, Credit and Award Processes (MADCAP).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://oig.ssa.gov/audits-and-investigations/audit-reports/a-04-11-01114 | title=Payments Resulting from Disability Insurance Actions Processed Via Manual Adjustment, Credit and Award Processes | publisher=Social Security Administration | date=June 28, 2013 | access-date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>

The six service centers are:<ref name="poms-psc"/>

* Northeastern Program Service Center, [[Jamaica, Queens, New York]] (as of late 1980s; previously in [[Rego Park, Queens]] and [[College Point, Queens]])<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajk3AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA23 | title=Queens, Proposed Federal Building: Environmental Impact Statement | publisher=Social Security Administration | date=1981}}</ref>
* Mid-Atlantic Program Service Center, [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
* Southeastern Program Service Center, [[Birmingham, Alabama]]
* Great Lakes Program Service Center, [[Chicago, Illinois]]
* Mid-America Program Service Center, [[Kansas City, Missouri]]
* Western Program Service Center, [[Richmond, California]] (as of mid 1970s; previously in [[San Francisco]])<ref name="sfe-73"/>

They have been located in these six cities going back to at least the early 1950s.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WW9KAQAAMAAJ&q=%22social+security%22+%22payment+centers%22+philadelphia+%22kansas+city%22+1952 | title=Analysis of the Social Security System: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, 83rd Congress, First Session, Parts 1-8 | publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | date=1953 | page=570}}</ref>
The origins of the payment centers date back to 1942, when they were known as Area Offices.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/orghist.html | title=Organizational History | work=Social Security History | publisher=Social Security Administration | access-date=March 17, 2019}}</ref> The first one was established in Philadelphia, with ones in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], soon following.<ref name="ssa-oh-mf"/>

In addition, there are specialized processing centers for the Office of Earnings and International Operations and the Office of Disability Operations, both located in Baltimore.<ref name="poms-psc"/>

[[Image:Form SSA-101 in 1978.jpg|thumb|right|Form SSA-101 was the central form used in Program Services Centers for indicating initial entitlement to benefits.]]
[[Image:Form SSA-2795 in 1978.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Form SSA-2795 was the central form used in Program Services Centers for changing entitlements to benefits.]]

Before the mid-1970s, the Program Service Centers were called Payment Centers.<ref name="hearings-1961">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gQX6ireOPkC&pg=RA2-PA301 | title=Supplemental Appropriation Bill for 1962: Hearings, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, 87th Congress, First Session, H.R. 9169 | publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | date=1961 | page=301}}</ref> By the late 1960s, the Payment Centers had acquired a reputation as sources of poor bureaucratic performance that people did not want to work in, and a reorganization under a modules system was undertaken during the 1970s in an effort to improve matters.<ref name="ssa-oh-mf">{{cite web | url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/miltforal.html | title=Historical Interview with Milton Freedman | work=Social Security History: Oral Histories | date=January 18, 1974 | first=O. R. | last=Garcia | publisher=Social Security Administration}}</ref> Each module would be assigned a certain block of social security numbers and it would process all aspects of a claim, from initial entitlement through various changes, notifications to beneficiaries, and so forth.<ref name="oh-caligiuri"/> Decades later, the modules system was still seen as one of the great improvements in SSA processing.<ref name="oh-caligiuri">{{cite web | url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/orals/caligiuri.html | title=Oral Histories: 'Pat' Caligiuri | work=Social Security History: Oral Histories | date=April 8, 2010 | publisher=Social Security Administration}}</ref>

The centers have each employed around two thousand people or more, giving them a major local economic impact, and even relocations within the same metropolitan area have created political conflict.
When in the early 1970s, SSA and the [[General Services Administration]] said it intended to move payment center operations out of San Francisco and across the [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]] to Richmond, the move was opposed by San Francisco-representing Congressman [[Phillip Burton]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/460639579/?terms=%22social%2Bsecurity%22%2B%22payment%2Bcenter%22%2B%22san%2Bfrancisco%22%2Brichmond | title=S.F. to Lose Big Payroll? | newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner | date=December 7, 1972 | page=11 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 
Burton's efforts were in vain, however, as construction in a redevelopment area in Richmond commenced and the move was made around 1975.<ref name="sfe-73">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/460271235/?terms=%22social%2Bsecurity%22%2B%22payment%2Bcenter%22%2B%22san%2Bfrancisco%22%2Brichmond | title=Richmond To Dig S.F. Loss | newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner | date=July 31, 1973 | page=3 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Similarly, in the late 1970s, SSA, the General Services Administration, and the [[Carter administration]] devised a plan to move the program service center from its main location, in two leased buildings on [[Horace Harding Expressway]] in [[Lefrak City]] in Rego Park, to a new federal building planned for a revitalization zone in the center of the Jamaica area of Queens.<ref name="nyt-nov79">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/16/archives/federal-building-in-queens-urged-to-aid-economy.html | title=Federal Building in Queens Urged to Aid Economy | first=Irvin | last=Molotsky | newspaper=The New York Times | date=November 16, 1979 | page=B3}}</ref><ref name="nydn-apr80-b">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/484952241/?terms=%22social%2Bsecurity%22%2BAddabbo%2BFederal%2BBuilding%2B%2B%22jamaica%22 | title=A biz district is finding the road back | first=Gus | last=Dallas | newspaper=Daily News | location=New York | date=April 20, 1980 | page=3B XQL | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The move was championed by Congressman [[Joseph P. Addabbo]], who represented Jamaica and whose district would gain the over 2,000 federal workers involved, but was opposed by Congressman [[Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal|Benjamin Rosenthal]], whose district would lose them.<ref name="nydn-dec79">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/484868391/?terms=%22social%2Bsecurity%22%2BAddabbo%2BFederal%2BBuilding%2B%2B%22jamaica%22 | title=Site for fed office stirs row | first=Harrison | last=Rainie | newspaper=Daily News | location=New York | date=December 14, 1979 | page=XQ1 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> According to Rosenthal, the potential negative impact of the move affected the [[Elmhurst, Queens|Elmhurst]] and [[Corona, Queens|Corona]] neighborhoods most strongly.<ref name="nydn-feb80">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/434193784/?terms=%22social%2Bsecurity%22%2B%22service%2Bcenter%22%2B%22rego%2Bpark%22%2B%22jamaica%22 | title=SS move called disaster | first=Alice | last=Murray | newspaper=Daily News | location=New York | date=February 4, 1980 | page=3XQ | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
The move was also supported by Representative [[Geraldine Ferraro]], another powerful Queens figure, who sat on the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|House Public Works Committee]].<ref name="nyt-nov79"/>The dispute was aired in Congressional hearings and embroiled Senator [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]] and developer [[Richard Lefrak]], supporting and opposing the move respectively, as well.<ref name="nydn-apr80">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/484952241/?terms=%22social%2Bsecurity%22%2BAddabbo%2BFederal%2BBuilding%2B%2B%22jamaica%22 | title=Battle's building up on fed office | first=David | last=Hardy | newspaper=Daily News | location=New York | date=April 20, 1980 | pages=1B, 3B XQL | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
In the event, the move went forward and the new, 11-story building in Jamaica – by then named the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building, as the congressman had died in the interim – opened in 1988.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/465890790/?terms=%22social%2Bsecurity%22%2BAddabbo%2Bbuilding | title=Jamaica on the march | first=Albert | last=Davila | newspaper=Daily News | location=New York | date=November 11, 1988 | page=XQ1 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

== Coverage ==
[[Image:Mid-Atlantic Social Security Center view of NW corner 2019.jpg|thumb|left|The Mid-Atlantic Program Services Center in Philadelphia]]
Initially, only 56 percent of the jobs in the United States were covered by Social Security. Today, the system is nearly universal, with 94 percent of individuals in paid employment in the United States working in covered employment.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|title=Social Security: Who Is Covered Under the Program?|url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11824|publisher=Congressional Research Service}}</ref>

State and local government workers are not required to participate in the Social Security program if they participate in a public retirement system through their employers. However, state and local governments, through agreements known as Section 218 agreements,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.10/handbook-1000.html|title=Social Security Coverage for State and Local Government Employees|publisher=Social Security Administration}}</ref> may elect to participate in the program. Of the 23.2 million state and local workers in the United States, about 6.6 million are not covered by Social Security. Other workers not covered by Social Security include federal employees hired before 1984, railroad workers, some family employees, some students, and some members of the clergy.<ref name="auto1"/>

If a job is not covered by Social Security, workers and employers do not pay Social Security payroll taxes. Social Security retirement and disability benefits are not payable unless individuals have sufficient work in Social Security covered employment. Individuals who work part of their careers in covered employment and part of their careers in non-covered employment and who receive pensions from non-covered employment may have their Social Security benefits reduced through the [[Windfall Elimination Provision]] (WEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/program-explainers/windfall-elimination-provision.html|title=Program Explainer: Windfall Elimination Provision|publisher=Social Security Administration}}</ref> or the [[Social Security Government Pension Offset|Government Pension Offset]] (GPO).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/program-explainers/government-pension-offset.pdf|title=Program Explainer: Government Pension Offset|publisher=Social Security Administration}}</ref> 

Railroad workers were covered by the [[Railroad Retirement Board]] before Social Security was founded. Today, they still are, though a portion of each railroad pension is designated as "equivalent" to Social Security. Railroad workers also participate in Medicare. All state and local government employees hired since 1986, or who are covered by Section 218 Agreements, participate in Medicare even if not covered for purposes of Social Security benefits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10051.html |title=Social Security Publications |publisher=Socialsecurity.gov |access-date=2012-05-09 |archive-date=2012-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511042300/http://socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10051.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Old age, survivors and disability ===
SSA administers the retirement, survivors, and disabled social insurance programs, which can provide monthly benefits to aged or disabled workers, their spouses and children, and to the survivors of insured workers. In 2010, more than 54 million Americans received approximately $712 billion in Social Security benefits. The programs are primarily financed by taxes which employers, employees, and the self-insured pay annually. These revenues are placed into a special [[Social Security trust fund|trust fund]]. These programs are collectively known as [[Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance]] (RSDI).

SSA administers its disability program partly through its Office of Hearing Operations (OHO), which has regional offices and hearing offices across the United States. OHO processes claims that have been appealed from the first (in prototype states) or second unfavorable determination through the state-based Disability Determination Services (DDS) who develop and process claims at the initial and reconsideration levels of review. OHO runs offices for the approximately 1,200 Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who develop, evaluate, and adjudicate appellate claims and provide substantive hearings for claimants to obtain testimony and expert evidence prior to issuing a hearing decision with findings of fact and law regarding each claim. OHO publishes a procedural manual called the Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation Law Manual (HALLEX) which "defines procedures for carrying out policy and provides guidance for processing and adjudicating claims" for OHO, the Appeals Council (AC), the Division of Civil Actions (DCA) levels. "It also includes policy statements resulting from Appeals Council ''en banc'' meetings under the authority of the Appeals Council Chair[https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/hallex/I-01/I-1-0-1.html]."

The RSDI program is the primary benefits program administered by the U.S. federal government, and for some beneficiaries is the vital source of income. Increasing access to this benefit program for low-income or homeless individuals is one of SSA's goals. SSA is a member of the [[United States Interagency Council on Homelessness]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usich.gov/member_agency |title=Member Agency |publisher=Usich.gov |access-date=2012-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424055302/http://www.usich.gov/member_agency |archive-date=2012-04-24 }}</ref> and works with other municipal, county, state, local and federal partners to increase access and approval for SSI/SSDI benefits who are eligible.

=== Supplemental Security Income (SSI) ===
[[Image:Social Security Administration Offices, 3971 South Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|An SSA field office in Ann Arbor, Michigan]]

SSA also administers the [[Supplemental Security Income]] (SSI) program, which is needs-based, for the aged, blind, or disabled. Prior to the 1972 Amendments to the Social Security Act, low-income aged, blind, or disabled persons received benefits from state-run programs called Old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled. These programs received federal funding, but varied in terms of eligibility requirements and benefit payments. The 1972 Amendments replaced these programs with the SSI program. SSA was assigned responsibility for the SSI program and began operations in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the SSI program|url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/ssi_asr/2019/background.html|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> Federal benefit payments up to $943 for an SSI individual and $1,371 for an SSI couple are available from the program. SSI benefits are paid out of the general revenue of the United States of America. Some states supplement the federal amount. 

Because SSI is needs-based, eligibility is restricted to persons with limited income and resources. In addition, eligibility is generally restricted to U.S. citizens, nationals, and some other groups (such as some refugees) who reside in one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Eligibility Requirements -- 2021 Edition|url=https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-eligibility-ussi.htm|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref> U.S. citizens and nationals who reside in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not eligible for SSI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://greenbook-waysandmeans.house.gov/2018-green-book/chapter-3-supplemental-security-income|title=Chapter 3: Supplemental Security Income |website=greenbook-waysandmeans.house.gov}}</ref> In 2019, 8 million individuals received SSI, including 1.1 million disabled children, 4.6 million disabled adults, and 2.3 million persons 65 or older.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SSI Recipients by State and County, 2019|url=https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/ssi_sc/|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

In some cases, individuals may be eligible for Social Security (RSDI) benefits and SSI benefits. For example, a disabled individual who worked in Social Security-covered employment and who has limited income and resources may receive a Social Security disability benefit (due to employment prior to disability) and a partial SSI benefit (due to limited income and resources). SSA refers to these beneficiaries as "concurrent" beneficiaries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Example of Concurrent Benefits With Work Incentives |url=https://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/supportsexample.htm |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Social Security Administration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of Our Disability Programs – concurrent definition |url=https://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/overview-disability.htm |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Social Security Administration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ticket Terms A to Z – Concurrent Beneficiary |url=https://yourtickettowork.ssa.gov/resources/ticket-terms-a-to-z |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Social Security Administration}}</ref>

===Medicare===
The administration of the [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] program is a responsibility of the [[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services|Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services]], but SSA offices are used for determining initial eligibility, some processing of premium payments, and for limited public contact information. They also administer a financial needs-based program called Extra Help, which helps beneficiaries pay the premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance associated with prescription drug coverage under Part D of Medicare. Benefits under this program are estimated to be worth about $5,000 per year. Individuals may apply online for the Extra Help program or by calling SSA.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs|url=https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/prescriptionhelp/|website=www.ssa.gov}}</ref>

==Operations==
To ensure consistent and efficient treatment of Social Security beneficiaries across its organization, SSA has compiled a book known as the Program Operations Manual System (POMS) which governs practically all aspects of SSA's internal operations. POMS describes, in detail, a variety of situations regularly encountered by SSA personnel, and the exact policies and procedures that apply to each situation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/Home?readform|title=SSA's Policy Information Site - POMS - About POMS|website=secure.ssa.gov}}</ref>

===Automation===
[[Image:Early SSA accounting operations.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|IBM tabulating machines in use at SSA {{Circa|1936}}]]
[[Image:SocialSecurity.cardpunching.ssa.jpg|thumb|A few of the hundreds of keypunch operators SSA employed throughout the late 1930s and into the 1950s]]

While the establishment of Social Security predated the invention of the modern [[Computer|digital computer]], [[punched card]] data processing was a [[mature technology]], and the Social Security system made extensive use of automated [[unit record equipment]] from the program's inception. This allowed the Social Security Administration to achieve a high level of efficiency. SSA expenses have always been a small fraction of benefits paid. As a percentage of assets, the administration costs are 0.39%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cato.org/pubs/ssps/ssp-15es.html |title=Administration Costs and the Relative Efficiency of Public and Private Social Security Systems |publisher=CATO Institute |author=Robert Genetski |access-date=2010-09-27}}</ref>

===Adjudication===
SSA operates its own administrative adjudication system, which has [[original jurisdiction]] when claims are denied in part or in full. SSA decisions are issued by Administrative Law Judges and Senior Attorney Adjudicators (supported by about 6,000 staff employees) at locations throughout the United States of the U.S. Office of Hearing Operations, formerly Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), who hear and decide challenges to SSA decisions. Dissatisfied claimants can appeal to ODAR's Appeals Council, and if still dissatisfied can appeal to a U.S. District Court.

Over the years, OHO aka ODAR has developed its own procedural system, which is documented in the Hearings and Appeals Litigation Law Manual (HALLEX)
(HALLEX). ODAR was formerly known as the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) and, prior to the 1970s, the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals. The name was changed to ODAR in 2007 to reflect the fact that about 75% of the agency's docket consists of disability cases. OHO aka ODAR also adjudicates disputes relating to retirement claims and has jurisdiction when the paternity of a claimant or the validity of a marriage is at issue when a claim is filed for benefits under the earnings record of a spouse or parent. The agency also adjudicates a limited number of Medicare claim issues, which is a residual legacy from when SSA was part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

===Statistical publications===
Each year, just before [[Mother's Day]], SSA releases a list of the names most commonly given to newborn babies in the United States in the previous year, based on applications for Social Security cards. The report includes the 1,000 most common names for both genders. The Popular Baby Names page on the SSA website provides the complete list and allows searches for past years and particular names.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames |title=Popular Baby Names |publisher=U.S. Government |author=Social Security Administration |access-date=2007-05-24}}</ref> For privacy reasons, SSA does not publish data for names with fewer than five occurrences in any given year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/background.html|title=Background information for popular names|publisher=U.S. Government |author=Social Security Administration |access-date=2021-06-04}}</ref>The Social Security Administration does not publish data for names with fewer than five occurrences in a single geographic location in any given year. Other baby name tracking sources that do not depend on geographic indicators, such as BabyCenter, can display ranked lists with no name registration minimums. Their name reports also differ by showing naming trends in real time by analyzing information from more than 500,000 parents who actively register births on the BabyCenter site and app (in 2024). These emerging trends and annual rankings have been published for more than 20 years and often publish months ahead of the SSA’s official release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-24 |title=These trends will influence baby names in 2025, study finds |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/trends-influence-baby-names-2025-study |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=FOX TV Stations |language=en-US}}</ref> 

==See also==
*[[Social programs in the United States]]
*[[Public finance]]
*[[Social Security Death Index]]
*[[Social Security Disability Insurance]]
*[[NOSSCR]], National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives
*''[[Richardson v. Perales]]''
*[[Ticket to Work]], SSA's Ticket to Work Program
*[[Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations]]
*[[Data.gov]]
*[[USAFacts]]
*[[SSA impersonation scam]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[https://ssa-office.com All Social Security Offices in USA]

== Further reading ==
* ''[http://www.jamespublishing.com/books/ssr.htm Social Security Disability Advocate's Handbook]'', by David Traver, James Publishing, 2006, {{ISBN|1-58012-033-4}}
* ''{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222816/http://germaniapublishing.com/social-security-handbook-p-3.html Social Security Handbook]}}, Germania Publishing, 2006.''

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/social-security-administration Social Security Administration] in the [[Federal Register]]
* [https://www.usaspending.gov/#/agency/539 Social Security Administration] on [[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006|USAspending.gov]]
* {{Internet Archive author |search=("Social Security Board" OR "Social Security Administration")}}

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[[Category:Independent agencies of the United States government]]
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[[Category:Government agencies established in 1935]]