[United States Government Manual]
[May 31, 1996]
[Pages 672-675]
[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                  Shirley S. Chater
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,     Dale W. Sopper, Acting
    and Management/Chief Financial Officer
Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources          Ruth A. Pierce
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.

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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  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 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 district 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 district offices, branch offices, and teleservice 
centers, which serve as the contact between SSA and the public. The 
Administration operates 1,292 district and branch 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).

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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.
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.
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 and Statistics, Room 209, 4301 
Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20008. 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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