GovernmentPopulation

What does the Social Security Administration do?

Data updated January 23, 2025

The Social Security Administration is an independent agency responsible for administering Social Security, a program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible people. Its functions include managing the distribution of monthly payments to beneficiaries, enrolling Medicare recipients, and overseeing the issuance of Social Security numbers and cards. It was established in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act.

Other names and abbreviations for the Social Security Administration:

  • SSA
In FY 2024,

$1.5T

was spent by the Social Security Administration
In FY 2024,

22.4%

of federal spending was by the Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration spent $1.5 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 22.4% of the $6.8 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked second among federal agencies in total spending.

The Social Security Administration accounted for 22.4% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

10 government agencies accounted for 97.0% of federal spending in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Since FY 1980, overall federal spending has risen 193.7%, while Social Security Administration spending has increased 212.3%.
The department’s spending grew more than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget increased. In FY 2024, the Social Security Administration accounted for 22.4% of all federal spending, 1.3 percentage points higher than in FY 1980. In the last 10 years, that share has decreased 3.2 points.
Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Social Security Administration’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to SSA, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, all of the Social Security Administration's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all SSA spending.

How did the Social Security Administration spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government spending isolated to SSA, FY 2024

Who leads the Social Security Administration?

SSA is led by a commissioner. They are appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. The SSA is an independent agency, and its commissioner is not part of the president's cabinet. The central office, located in Baltimore, leads a field organization of about 1,230 offices across 10 regions.


In addition to benefits, the agency is responsible for issuing Social Security numbers and cards.

Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury

    Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement

    Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury logo