[United States Government Manual]
[September 15, 2009]
[Pages 513-517]
[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                                    James A. Winn
Deputy Chief of Staff                             Jo Tittel
Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner         Linda D. Maxfield
Special Advisor for Health IT                     James C. Borland
Executive Secretary                               Robin F. Kaplan
International Programs                            Diane K. Braunstein, 
                                                          Acting
Chief Actuary                                     Stephen C. Goss
Deputy Chief Actuary (Short Range)                Eli N. Donkar
Deputy Chief Actuary (Long Range)                 Alice H. Wade
Chief Information Officer                         Gregory C. Pace, 
                                                          Acting
Deputy Chief Information Officer                  Gregory C. Pace
Deputy Commissioner for Communications            James J. Courtney

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Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Communications  Philip A. Gambino
Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance, and      Mary E. Glenn-Croft
        Management
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Budget,         Michael G. Gallagher
        Finance, and Management
Deputy Commissioner for Disability Adjudication   David V. Foster
        and Review
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Disability      Ronald T. Raborg
        Adjudication and Review
Senior Advisor for the Deputy Commissioner for    Lisa de Soto
        Disability Adjudication and Review
General Counsel                                   David F. Black
Deputy General Counsel                            Thomas W. Crawley
Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources           Reginald F. Wells
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Human           Nancy A. Berryhill, 
        Resources                                         Acting
Inspector General                                 Patrick P. O'Carroll
Deputy Inspector General                          James A. Kissko
Deputy Commissioner for Legislative and           Margaret A. Hostetler
        Regulatory Affairs
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Legislative     Angela J. Arnett
        and Regulatory Affairs
Deputy Commissioner for Operations                Linda S. McMahon
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Operations      Roger P. McDonnell
Deputy Commissioner for Quality Performance       G. Kelly Croft
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Quality         (vacancy)
        Performance
Deputy Commissioner for Retirement and            David A. Rust
        Disability Policy
Assistant Deputy Commissioners for Retirement     Mariana E. LaCanfora, 
        and Disability Policy                             (vacancy)
Deputy Commissioner for Systems                   William E. Gray
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Systems         Jerry L. Berson

[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; administers the 
Supplemental Security Income program for the aged, blind, and disabled; 
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 


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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T217558.064


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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 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, 35 call centers, 7 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.

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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, 410-965-7467.
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 www.jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov.

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 submit allegations by fax at 410-597-0118, by Web 
site at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig, or by mail at Social Security Fraud 
Hotline, 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, 800-772-1213. TTY, 800-325-0778. Internet, 
www.socialsecurity.gov.

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