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The United States Government Manual
Social Security Administration
6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235
410-965-1234 / 800-772-1213
800-325-0778 (TTY)
http://www.socialsecurity.gov
| COMMISSIONER | Nancy A. Berryhill, Acting |
| Deputy Commissioner | (vacancy) |
| Chief of Staff | Beatrice M. Disman, Acting |
| Counselor to the Commissioner | (vacancy) |
| Director, Equal Employment Opportunity | Claudia J. Postell, Acting |
| Executive Secretary | Darlynda K. Bogle |
Offices
| Chief Actuary | Stephen C. Goss |
| General Counsel | Asheesh Agarwal |
| DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS | |
| Analytics, Review, and Oversight | Patricia A. Jonas |
| Budget, Finance, Quality, and Management | Michelle A. King |
| Communications | James C. Borland, Acting |
| Hearings Operations | Theresa L. Gruber |
| Human Resources | Marianna LaCanfora |
| Legislation and Congressional Affairs | Royce B. Min, Acting |
| Operations | Mary L. Horne, Acting |
| Retirement and Disability Policy | Mark J. Warshawsky |
| Systems / Chief Information Officer | Rajive K. Mathur |
| Inspector General | Gale S. Stone, Acting |
The above list of key personnel was updated 02–2018.
The Social Security Administration manages the retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs that are known as Social Security; it administers the Supplemental Security Income program for the aged, blind, and disabled; and it assigns Social Security numbers to U.S. citizens and maintains earnings records based on those 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.
https://www.ssa.gov/historyThe SSA is headed by a Commissioner whom the President appoints with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The Deputy Commissioner assists in administering the programs necessary to accomplish the Administration's mission. The Deputy Commissioner performs duties that the Commissioner, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, General Counsel, Chief Actuary, and Inspector General assign or delegate to him or her.
https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title07/0702.htmThe Administration's operations are decentralized to provide local services. Each of the 10 SSA regions has a network of field offices and call centers. These offices and centers provide liaison between the SSA and public. The Administration operates 10 regional offices, approximately 1,230 field offices, 33 teleservice centers, 15 Social Security card centers, 6 processing centers, and 2 additional processing centers in its central office.
https://www.ssa.gov/org/index.htmActivities
Black Lung
By agreement with the Department of Labor, the SSA assists in the administration of the black lung benefits provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as amended (30 U.S.C. 901).
https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/09/SSR73-24-di-09.htmlHearings and Appeals
The SSA administers a nationwide hearings and appeals program that offers a way for those who are dissatisfied with determinations affecting their rights to and amounts of benefits or their participation in programs to seek remedy through 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. The SSA operates approximately 166 hearing offices, including 2 satellite offices; 5 national hearing centers; and 4 national case assistance centers within in its 10 administrative regions.
http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/about_odar.htmlMedicare
While the administration of Medicare is the responsibility of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the SSA provides Medicare assistance to the public through SSA field offices and call centers. It adjudicates requests for hearings and appeals of Medicare claims.
http://www.ssa.gov/medicareOld-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance
The SSA administers social insurance programs that provide monthly benefits to retired and disabled workers, to their spouses and children, and to 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 decrease because the worker retires, dies, or becomes disabled, monthly cash benefits are paid to supplement the family's reduced income.
https://faq.ssa.gov/ics/support/splash.aspSupplemental Security Income
The SSA administers this needs-based program for the aged, blind, and disabled. A basic Federal monthly payment is financed by general revenue, rather than from a special trust fund. Some States, choosing to provide payments to supplement the benefits, have agreements with the Administration under which it administers the supplemental payments for those States.
http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityssi/ssi.htmlSources of Information
Business Opportunities
The Office of Acquisition and Grants serves as the SSA's principal procurement office.
http://www.ssa.gov/oagCareer Opportunities
The SSA offers opportunities for various career paths: acquisitions, contracts, and grants; administrative support; facilities and physical security; finance and accounting; human resources; information technology; law enforcement; legal; and public contact.
http://www.ssa.gov/careersIn 2017, the SSA ranked 12th among 18 large agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/detail/SZ00Fraud Hotline
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) operates a toll-free hotline, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., eastern standard time, for reporting allegations of abuse, fraud, and waste affecting SSA programs and operations. Phone, 800-269-0271. TTY, 866-501-2101. Fax, 410-597-0118.
https://oig.ssa.gov/report-fraud-waste-or-abuseAn online form also is available to file a report.
https://www.ssa.gov/fraudreport/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htmFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
An online guide discusses important FOIA-related topics: how to request information and records, information that the SSA cannot disclose, and the fees associated with making a request.
https://www.ssa.gov/foiaFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The SSA posts answers to FAQs and offers information on popular help-topics.
https://faq.ssa.gov/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=34019&_referrer=https://www.ssa.gov/askGlossary
A glossary of Social Security terms is available online.
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/glossaryHistory
In 1795, the unflagging colonial and revolutionary pamphleteer Thomas Paine wrote about Americans entering adulthood and their welfare in retirement. To the new Republic, he issued a challenge: Establish a public system of economic security that would give a one-time stipend to each citizen upon attaining age 21, as well as annual benefits starting at age 50. To learn more about this patriot's bold proposal, see the "Historical Background and Development of Social Security" web page.
https://www.ssa.gov/history/briefhistory3.htmlMultilanguage Gateway
The SSA tries to eliminate or reduce, as much as possible, barriers of language that impede the delivery of its services. Social Security information is available on the SSA website in the following languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The SSA provides free interpreter services for conducting Social Security-related business.
https://www.ssa.gov/multilanguageNews
The SSA posts press releases online.
https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releasesAn online newsletter also is available.
https://www.ssa.gov/news/newsletterOnline Services
The SSA offers a growing number of services electronically through its website.
https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservicesOpen Government
The SSA supports the Open Government initiative to create a more open and transparent Government by promoting the principles of collaboration, participation, and transparency.
https://www.ssa.gov/open | Email: open.government@ssa.govOrganizational Chart
The SSA's organizational chart is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading.
https://www.ssa.gov/org/ssachart.pdfPlain Language
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires Federal agencies to communicate in a manner that the public can understand and use. SSA writers and editors welcome suggestions for improving agency forms, notices, pamphlets, or pages from its website.
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/plain-language | Email: PlainWriting@ssa.govPublications
Many SSA publications in English, Spanish, and other languages are accessible online.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubsSite Map
The website map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.ssa.gov/sitemap.htmSpeakers
Under certain circumstances, the SSA can provide a speaker free of charge, generally available during business hours, to explain benefits, programs, and services. An online form is available to initiate a request.
http://www.ssa.gov/agency/ask-for-a-speaker.htmlFor further information, contact the Office of Public Inquiries, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, 1106 West High Rise Building, Baltimore, MD 21235. Phone, 410-965-0709. Fax, 410-965-0695.