History of Social Security Administration in Timeline

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government, created in 1935 and codified in 42 U.S.C. § 901. Originally named the "Social Security Board," it adopted its current name in 1946. The SSA administers Social Security, a social insurance program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. The current commissioner is Frank Bisignano.

1923: Union Representation

Headquarters non-supervisory employees of the Social Security Administration are represented by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1923 since 1923.

August 14, 1935: Social Security Act Signed

On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, creating a Social Security Board (SSB) to oversee the administration of the new program.

1935: Social Security Act of 1935

In 1935, the Social Security Administration was established by the Social Security Act of 1935 and was created as the "Social Security Board".

October 14, 1936: First Social Security Office Opens

On October 14, 1936, the first Social Security office opened in Austin, Texas.

1936: SSA Chooses Baltimore Location

In 1936, the Social Security Board selected the Candler Building on Baltimore's harbor as a temporary location due to lack of suitable buildings in Washington, D.C.

January 1937: First Social Security Taxes Collected

In January 1937, Social Security taxes were first collected, along with the first one-time, lump-sum payments.

1939: Social Security Board Merged

In 1939, the Social Security Board merged into a cabinet-level Federal Security Agency.

January 1940: First Regular Monthly Benefits Begin

In January 1940, the first regular ongoing monthly benefits began.

January 31, 1940: First Monthly Retirement Benefit

On January 31, 1940, Ida May Fuller of Brattleboro, Vermont, became the first person to receive monthly retirement benefits, with her first check being US$22.54.

1942: Area Offices Established

In 1942, the origins of the payment centers date back to when they were known as Area Offices. The first one was established in Philadelphia, with ones in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and New Orleans, Louisiana, soon following.

1946: SSB Renamed Social Security Administration

In 1946, the SSB was renamed the Social Security Administration under President Harry S. Truman's Reorganization Plan.

1946: Social Security Board Renamed

In 1946, the Social Security Board assumed its present name: Social Security Administration.

1953: SSA Placed Under Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

In 1953, the Federal Security Agency was abolished, and the SSA was placed under the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

1960: SSA Relocates to Woodlawn

In 1960, the Social Security Administration relocated to its newly built headquarters in Woodlawn.

1960: Flemming v. Nestor Supreme Court Ruling

In 1960, the Supreme Court ruled in Flemming v. Nestor that Social Security is not a system of 'accrued property rights' and that those who pay into the system have no contractual right to receive what they have paid into it.

1972: Cost of Living Adjustments Introduced

In 1972, Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) were introduced into SSA programs to deal with the effects of inflation on fixed incomes.

1972: SSI Program Amendments

Prior to the 1972 Amendments to the Social Security Act, low-income aged, blind, or disabled persons received benefits from state-run programs. These programs were replaced with the SSI program due to the 1972 Amendments.

1974: SSA Responsibility for SSI

In 1974, the Social Security Administration was assigned responsibility for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and began operations.

1975: Payment Center Move to Richmond

Around 1975, the SSA payment center operations moved out of San Francisco to Richmond, despite opposition from Congressman Phillip Burton.

1980: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Renamed

In 1980, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare became the Department of Health and Human Services.

1984: Exemptions from Social Security Program

Since 1984, state and local government workers are not required to participate in the Social Security program if they participate in a public retirement system through their employers.

1986: Medicare Participation for State and Local Employees

Since 1986, all state and local government employees hired since, or who are covered by Section 218 Agreements, participate in Medicare even if not covered for purposes of Social Security benefits.

1988: Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building Opens

In 1988, the new 11-story building in Jamaica – named the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building – opened, marking the relocation of the program service center.

1994: SSA Returns to Independent Agency Status

In 1994, Congress amended non-positive law 42 U.S.C. § 901 and returned the SSA to the status of an independent agency in the executive branch of government.

2007: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review Renamed

In 2007, the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) was renamed to Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) to reflect the fact that about 75% of the agency's docket consists of disability cases.

2010: Social Security Benefits in 2010

In 2010, more than 54 million Americans received approximately $712 billion in Social Security benefits.

2018: SSA Employment Numbers

As of 2018, approximately 60,000 people were employed by the Social Security Administration.

2019: SSI Recipients in 2019

In 2019, 8 million individuals received SSI, including 1.1 million disabled children, 4.6 million disabled adults, and 2.3 million persons 65 or older.

2019: Field Offices Served 43 Million Individuals

In 2019, Social Security Administration field offices served 43 million individuals.

2019: SSA Field Office Visits

In fiscal year 2019, 43 million individuals visited Social Security Administration field offices to apply for benefits, get a Social Security card, or receive other services.

April 7, 2022: Field Offices Reopened

On April 7, 2022, Social Security Administration field offices reopened after being closed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2022: Field Offices Reopened

In April 2022, Social Security Administration field offices reopened after being closed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: SSA Benefit Payouts in Fiscal Year 2022

In fiscal year 2022, the Social Security Administration expected to pay out $1.2 trillion in Social Security benefits to 66 million individuals and $61 billion in SSI benefits to 7.5 million low-income individuals.

2024: BabyCenter's real-time naming trends analysis

In 2024, BabyCenter, which analyzes information from more than 500,000 parents who actively register births on their site and app, publishes real-time naming trends. Their reports differ from the Social Security Administration (SSA) by showing trends in real time and having no name registration minimums.

April 2025: False Listings of Immigrants as Deceased

In April 2025, the Social Security Administration, under the Trump administration, falsely listed over 6,000 living immigrants in their database of dead people, with the change implemented by acting commissioner Leland Dudek and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, with the support of the Department of Government Efficiency. Senior executive Greg Pearre was put on leave after objecting to the listings.