Social Security Administration

Social Security Administration in the United States

The Social Security Administration manages the retirement, survivors, and
disability insurance programs commonly known as Social Security; administers the
Supplemental Security Income program for the aged, blind, and disabled; assigns
Social Security numbers to U.S. citizens; and maintains earnings records for workers
under their Social Security numbers.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) was established by Reorganization Plan
No. 2 of 1946 (5 U.S.C. app.), effective July 16, 1946. It became an independent
agency in the executive branch by the Social Security Independence and
Program Improvements Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 901), effective March 31, 1995.

The Administration is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the
President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

In administering the programs necessary to carry out the
Administration’s mission, by law the Commissioner is assisted by a
Deputy Commissioner who performs duties assigned or delegated by the
Commissioner, a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Information Officer, a General
Counsel, a Chief Actuary, and an Inspector General.

Programs and Activities

Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance

The agency administers social insurance programs that provide monthly bene?ts to retired and disabled workers, their spouses and children, and survivors of insured workers. Financing is under a system of contributory social insurance, whereby employees,
employers, and the self-employed pay contributions that are pooled in special
trust funds. When earnings stop or are reduced because the worker retires,
dies, or becomes disabled, monthly cash bene?ts are paid to partially replace the
earnings the family has lost.

Supplemental Security Income

The agency administers this needs-based program for the aged, blind, and
disabled. A basic Federal monthly payment is ?nanced out of general
revenue, rather than a special trust fund. Some States, choosing to provide
payments to supplement the bene?ts, have agreements with the Administration
under which it administers the supplemental payments for those States.

Medicare

While the administration of Medicare is the responsibility of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, SSA provides Medicare assistance to the public through SSA ?eld
of?ces and call centers and adjudicates requests for hearings and appeals of Medicare claims.

Black Lung

By agreement with the Department of Labor, SSA is involved in certain aspects of the administration of the black lung bene?ts provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as amended (30 U.S.C. 901).

Regional Offices

Social Security Administration operations are decentralized to provide services at the
local level. Each of the 10 SSA regions, under the overall direction of its Regional
Commissioner, contains a network of ?eld of?ces and call centers, which
serve as the contacts between SSA and the public. The Administration operates
approximately 1300 ?eld of?ces, 37 call centers, 7 Social Security card
centers, and 7 processing centers. These installations are responsible for informing
the public of the purposes and provisions of Social Security programs and their
rights and responsibilities; assisting with claims ?led for retirement, survivors,
disability, or health insurance bene?ts, black lung bene?ts, or Supplemental
Security Income; developing and adjudicating claims; assisting certain
bene?ciaries in claiming reimbursement for medical expenses; developing cases
involving earnings records, coverage, and fraud-related questions; making
rehabilitation service referrals; and assisting claimants in ?ling appeals on
SSA determinations of bene?t entitlement or amount.

Hearing Offices

SSA also administers a nationwide hearings and appeals program which provides a mechanism for individuals dissatis?ed with determinations affecting their rights
to and amounts of bene?ts or their participation in programs under the
Social Security Act. The act allows for administrative appeals of these
determinations in accordance with the requirements of the Administrative
Procedure and Social Security Acts. SSA has approximately 140 hearing of?ces
located in the 10 SSA regions.

For further information, contact the Social Security Administration. Phone, 800–772–1213. TTY, 800–325–0778.

For further information, contact the Office of Public Inquiries, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Windsor Park Building, Baltimore, MD 21235. Phone, 800–772–1213. TTY, 800–325–0778. Internet, http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

Social Security Administration in State Statute Topics

Introduction to Social Security Administration (U.S.) (State statute topic)

The purpose of Social Security Administration is to provide a broad appreciation of the Social Security Administration legal topic. Select from the list of U.S. legal topics for information (other than Social Security Administration).

Social Security Administration Background

Resources

Further Reading

Social Security Administration (SSA) in the International Business Landscape

Definition of Social Security Administration (ssa) in the context of U.S. international business and public trade policy: U.S. government agency, originally part of the Department of Health and human Services, that administers the national program of contributory social insurance whereby employees, employers, and the self-employed pay contributions that are pooled in special trust funds used to provide income to those eligible for Social Security.


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