Social Security Administration (SSA)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the Nation’s primary income security agency. It administers the federal retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs, as well as the program of supplemental security income (SSI) for the aged, blind, and disabled, and performs certain functions with respect to the black lung benefits program. SSA also directs the aid to the aged, blind and disabled in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The SSA is divided into four main offices with seven divisions. The Deputy Commissioner for Policy heads the Office of Policy, sets the agenda of the office, represents the office at the policymaking levels of the Administration, and is the main point of contact between the office and the policy community. The Office of Policy comprises three main components: the Office of Retirement Policy, the Office of Disability and Income Assistance Policy, and the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics.