It issues the Social Security numbers that became the de facto national identifier and runs one of the largest administrative operations anywhere: about 1,200 field offices, a national 800 number, and disability determinations made with state agencies.
Open the interactive page for SSA →Created bySocial Security Act of 1935 (P.L. 74-271, created the Social Security Board); made an independent agency by the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994, P.L. 103-296
Head appointed42 U.S.C. § 902(a): Commissioner appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a 6-year term; may hold over until a successor takes office (PAS)
Removal standard42 U.S.C. § 902(a)(3): removable 'only pursuant to a finding by the President of neglect of duty or malfeasance in office' — but under Collins v. Yellen, 594 U.S. 220 (2021), this single-director protection is treated as unconstitutional; Presidents have removed Commissioners at will since 2021 (statute remains on the books)
Funded undertrust funds — benefits paid by permanent appropriation from the OASI and DI Trust Funds (42 U.S.C. § 401); administrative costs drawn from the trust funds subject to an annual 'Limitation on Administrative Expenses' set in the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations act
Congressional oversightHouse Ways and Means · Senate Finance
Inspector generalown SSA OIG — PAS IG (created by P.L. 103-296; appointed under IG Act, 5 U.S.C. § 403(a))
Judicial review42 U.S.C. § 405(g): district-court review of final benefit decisions after administrative exhaustion; § 405(h) channels all claims through this route and bars general federal-question/APA review of benefit determinations
Appeal your own benefit decision through SSA's multi-level process, which ends in federal court; vote for Congress, which sets Social Security benefits by statute.