Social Security Administration

U.S. government agency charged with administering, managing, and overseeing:

• Social Security numbers and cards;
• Social Security Retirement benefits, often called simply Social Security;
• Social Security Disability Insurance, also known as SSDI;
• Supplemental Security Income, also known as SSI;
• Survivor benefits;
• and Family benefits.

The Social Security Administration was started in 1935 during the Great Depression with the Social Security Act. It was a sub-agency from 1939 to 1995.

The Social Security Administration has often been discussed by analysts as a successful government anti-poverty program. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that without benefits from the Social Security programs, 22 million more people would fall below the poverty line. That includes 5.7 million people below age 65 who receive benefits, including children.

Use Social Security Administration, also known as SSA on first reference and SSA on subsequent references. The <abbr> tag is:

<abbr title="Social Security Administration">SSA</abbr>

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