Social Security Program Administration

Background

Social Security program administration has multiple functions. It processes applications and payments and operates field offices around the country. Field offices not only assist Social Security beneficiaries and applicants; they also process many other types of public requests. Funding constraints have damaged the Social Security Administration’s ability to maintain the quality and breadth of services. 

SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: Policy

SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: Policy

Administrative capacity

Congress should allocate sufficient funding to strengthen the administrative capacity of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to better meet the needs of applicants and beneficiaries. 

Any additional administrative responsibilities given to SSA must be accompanied by sufficient funding. 

Congress should exempt Social Security’s administrative costs from limitations on discretionary appropriations in the federal budget. 

Changes to Social Security should be made only to strengthen its ability to provide guaranteed lifetime income, not to reduce the unified budget deficit.