History of Social Security Administration in Timeline

The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) is a U.S. federal agency administering Social Security, a social insurance program providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Established in 1935 as the Social Security Board and renamed in 1946, the SSA is codified in 42 U.S.C. § 901. The SSA provides monetary benefits to eligible retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors of deceased workers, funded through payroll taxes. Leland Dudek is the current acting leader. It stands as a cornerstone of social welfare in the United States.

1923: Union Representation

In 1923, American Federation of Government Employees Local 1923 represented Headquarters non-supervisory employees of SSA.

August 14, 1935: Social Security Act Signed

On August 14, 1935, the Social Security Act was signed into law as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, creating a Social Security Board (SSB) to oversee the administration of the new program.

1935: Social Security Act

In 1935, the Social Security Act established the Social Security Administration (SSA) as the "Social Security Board". This act is codified in 42 U.S.C. § 901.

October 14, 1936: First Social Security Office Opened

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

1936: SSA Located in Baltimore

In 1936, the Social Security Board selected the Candler Building on Baltimore's harbor as a temporary location, due to the need for a building capable of holding the unprecedented amount of paper records and nothing suitable available in Washington.

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, which included the SSB, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and other agencies.

January 1940: First Monthly Benefits Began

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

January 31, 1940: First Monthly Retirement Benefit

On January 31, 1940, Ida May Fuller of Brattleboro, Vermont, received the first monthly Social Security retirement benefit, which was a check for US$22.54.

1942: Area Offices Established

In 1942, the origins of the payment centers date back to 1942, 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: SSA Renamed

In 1946, the Social Security Board was renamed to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

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

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

1960: SSA Relocated to Woodlawn

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

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 Social Security Administration (SSA) programs to address the effects of inflation on fixed incomes.

1972: Amendments to the Social Security Act

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

1974: SSI Program Operations Begin

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

1975: Payment Center Relocation

Around 1975, the Social Security Administration moved payment center operations out of San Francisco to Richmond.

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

In 1984, Federal employees hired before 1984, railroad workers, some family employees, some students, and some members of the clergy are not required to participate in the Social Security program.

1986: Medicare Participation

In 1986, all state and local government employees hired since 1986, 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 Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building opened in Jamaica, Queens, housing the program service center, after a relocation from Lefrak City.

1994: SSA Returns to Independent Agency Status

In 1994, Congress amended 42 U.S.C. § 901 and returned the Social Security Administration to the status of an independent agency in the executive branch of government.

2007: Name Change to ODAR

In 2007, the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) was renamed to the 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 Paid

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

2018: SSA Employment Figures

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

2019: SSI Beneficiaries

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: Field Offices Visits

In fiscal year 2019, 43 million individuals visited Social Security Administration field offices.

April 7, 2022: Field Offices Reopened

On April 7, 2022, the 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, 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.