[United States Government Manual]
[May 30, 1997]
[Pages 671-674]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235
Phone, 410-965-1234
Commissioner of Social Security John J. Callahan,
Acting
Principal Deputy Commissioner John R. Dyer, Acting
Chief of Staff Brian D. Coyne
Chief Actuary Harry C. Ballantyne
General Counsel Arthur J. Fried
Inspector General David C. Williams
Deputy Commissioner for Communications Joan E. Wainwright
Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment, and Dale W. Sopper, Acting
Management/Chief Financial Officer
Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources Paul D. Barnes
Deputy Commissioner for Legislation and Judy L. Chesser
Congressional Affairs
Deputy Commissioner for Operations Janice L. Warden
Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Policy Carolyn W. Colvin
Deputy Commissioner for Systems D. Dean Mesterharm
[For the Social Security Administration statement of organization, see
the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20, Part 422]
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The Social Security Administration manages the Nation's social insurance
program, consisting of retirement, survivors, and disability insurance
programs, commonly known as Social Security. It also administers the
Supplemental Security Income program for the aged, blind, and disabled.
The Administration is responsible for studying the problems of poverty
and economic insecurity among Americans and making recommendations on
effective methods for solving these problems through social insurance.
The Administration also 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 agency'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 General Counsel; a Chief Actuary; and an Inspector
General.
Programs and Activities
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance The agency administers
these social insurance programs, which provide monthly benefits to
retired and disabled workers, 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
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pooled in special trust funds. When earnings stop or are reduced because
the worker retires, dies, or becomes disabled, monthly cash benefits 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 financed out of general revenue, rather than 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.
Medicare While the administration of Medicare is the responsibility of
the Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human
Services, the Social Security Administration provides Medicare
assistance to the public through SSA field offices and processing
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 benefits
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 SSA 10
regions, under the overall direction of its Regional Commissioner,
contains a network of field offices and teleservice centers, which serve
as the contact between SSA and the public. The Administration operates
1,292 field offices, 38 teleservice centers, and 6 program service
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 filed for retirement, survivors, disability,
or health insurance benefits, black lung benefits, or Supplemental
Security Income;
--developing and adjudicating claims;
--assisting certain beneficiaries in claiming reimbursement for
medical expenses;
--developing cases involving earnings records, coverage, and fraud-
related questions;
--making rehabilitation service referrals; and
--assisting claimants in filing appeals on SSA determinations of
benefit entitlement or amount.
For further information, contact the Social Security Administration.
Phone, 800-772-1213 (toll-free).
Sources of
Information
Inquiries on the following subjects may be directed to the appropriate
office, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21235.
Contracts and Small Business Activities Contact the Office of
Acquisitions and Grants. Phone, 410-965-9457.
Electronic Access Information regarding the Social Security
Administration may be obtained through the Internet, at http://
www.ssa.gov/.
Employment A variety of civil service registers and examinations are
used in hiring new employees. Specific employment information may be
obtained from the Office of Personnel. Phone, 410-965-4506.
General Information The Office of the Deputy Commissioner for
Operations manages SSA's toll-free public service telephone. Phone, 800-
772-1213 (toll-free).
Inspector General The Office of the Inspector General maintains a 24-
hour toll-free hotline to receive allegations and complaints relative to
SSA operations nationwide. Phone, 800-269-0271 (toll-free). Fax, 410-
965-3011.
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Publications The Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Communications
publishes numerous pamphlets concerning SSA programs. Single copies may
be obtained at any local office or by calling 800-772-1213. The
Administration also collects a substantial volume of economic,
demographic, and other data in furtherance of its program mission. Basic
data on employment and earnings, beneficiaries and benefit payments, and
other items of program interest are published regularly in the Social
Security Bulletin, its Annual Statistical Supplement, and in special
releases and reports that appear periodically on selected topics of
interest to the public. Additional information may be obtained from the
Publications Staff, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics, 500
E Street SW., Washington, DC 20254. Phone, 202-282-7138.
Reading Rooms Requests for information, for copies of records, or to
inspect records may be made at any local office or the Headquarters
Contact Unit, Room G-44, Altmeyer Building. Phone, 800-772-1213 (toll-
free).
Speakers and Films The Administration makes speakers, films, and
exhibits available to public or private organizations, community groups,
schools, etc., throughout the Nation. Requests for this service should
be directed to the local Social Security Office.
For further information, contact the Office of Public Inquiries, Social
Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.
Phone, 410-965-7700. Internet, http://www.ssa.gov/.
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