[United States Government Manual] [June 01, 2008] [Pages 528-532] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235 Phone, 410-965-1234. Internet, www.socialsecurity.gov. Commissioner of Social Security Michael J. Astrue Deputy Commissioner (vacancy) Chief of Staff David V. Foster Deputy Chief of Staff James A. Winn, Acting Senior Advisor to the Deputy Michel N. Korbey Commissioner Executive Secretary Robin F. Kaplan, Acting Regulations Dean S. Landis International Programs Rogelio Gomez, Jr. Chief Actuary Stephen C. Goss Deputy Chief Actuary (Short Range) Eli N. Donkar Deputy Chief Actuary (Long Range) Alice H. Wade Chief Information Officer Thomas P. Hughes Deputy Chief Information Officer Gregory C. Pace Deputy Commissioner for Communications James J. Courtney Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Philip A. Gambino Communications Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance, and Mary E. Glenn-Croft Management Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Michael G. Gallagher Budget, Finance, and Management Deputy Commissioner for Disability Adjudication Lisa de Soto and Review Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Frank V. Smith III Disability Adjudication and Review Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Linda S. Coleman, Disability Adjudication and Acting Review (Operations) General Counsel David F. Black Deputy General Counsel Thomas W. Crawley Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources Reginald F. Wells Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Felicita Sola-Carter Human Resources Inspector General Patrick P. O'Carroll Deputy Inspector General James A. Kissko Deputy Commissioner for Legislation and Margaret A. Hostetler Congressional Affairs [[Page 529]] Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Diane B. Garro Legislation and Congressional Affairs Deputy Commissioner for Operations Linda S. McMahon Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Roger P. McDonnell Operations Deputy Commissioner for Quality G. Kelly Croft Performance Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Ronald T. Raborg Quality Performance Deputy Commissioner for Retirement David A. Rust and Disability Policy Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Mariana E. LaCanfora Retirement and Disability Policy Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Linda D. Maxfield Retirement and Disability Policy Deputy Commissioner for Systems William E. Gray Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Jerry L. Berson Systems [For the Social Security Administration statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20, Part 422] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 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, 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 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 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T214669.063 [[Page 531]] 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 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Social Security Administration provides Medicare assistance to the public through SSA field offices 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 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 10 SSA regions, under the overall direction of its Regional Commissioner, contains a network of field offices and call centers, which serve as the contacts between SSA and the public. The Administration operates over 1200 field offices, 38 call centers, 6 Social Security card centers, and 7 processing centers. These installations are responsible for the following: --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. Hearing Offices SSA also administers a nationwide hearings and appeals program which provides a mechanism for individuals dissatisfied with determinations affecting their rights to and amounts of benefits 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 offices located in the 10 SSA regions. For further information, contact the Social Security Administration. Phone, 800-772-1213. TTY, 800-325-0778. 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, 410-965-7467. Electronic Access Information regarding the Social Security Administration may be obtained through the Internet at www.socialsecurity.gov. Employment For information about careers with the Social Security Administration, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/careers. For current vacancies, go to jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9ssajob.asp. General Information The Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Operations manages SSA's toll-free public service telephone. Phone, 800- 772-1213. TTY, 800-325-0778. Inspector General The Office of the Inspector General maintains a toll- free hotline that operates between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. e.s.t. (phone, 800-269-0271; TTY, 866-501-2101) to receive allegations of fraud. Persons may [[Page 532]] submit allegations by fax at 410-597-0118, by Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig, or by mail at P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD 21235-7768. Publications The Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Communications publishes numerous pamphlets concerning SSA programs. SSA also collects a substantial volume of economic, demographic, and other data in furtherance of its program mission. Basic data on employment, 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. Single copies may be obtained at any local office or by calling 800-772-1213. Requests for bulk orders of publications should be sent to the Social Security Administration, Office of Supply and Warehouse Management, 239 Supply Building, 6301 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235. In addition, over 150 publications are available online in English, Spanish, and other languages at www.socialsecurity.gov. Reading Room 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. Speakers and Films SSA 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, Windsor Park Building, Baltimore, MD 21235. Phone, 410-965-2736. Internet, www.socialsecurity.gov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------