History of Social Security Administration in Timeline

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent U.S. federal agency created in 1935 that manages Social Security, a social insurance program. It provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible Americans. Originally named the "Social Security Board," it was renamed SSA in 1946. The SSA was established by the Social Security Act of 1935 and is codified in law. Frank Bisignano is the current Commissioner.

1923: AFGE Local 1923 Representation

Headquarters non-supervisory employees of SSA are represented by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1923 since 1923.

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 the Social Security Board (SSB) to oversee the program. The Board started with no budget, staff, or furniture and obtained a temporary budget from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

1935: Social Security Act Established

In 1935, the Social Security Administration was established by the Social Security Act as the "Social Security Board". This act is codified in 42 U.S.C. § 901 (49 Stat. 635).

October 14, 1936: First Social Security Office Opens

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

1936: SSA's Temporary Location 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 amount of paper records required. A permanent building was planned for Washington but commandeered by the War Department during World War II.

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 Started

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

January 31, 1940: First Monthly Retirement Benefit Paid

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

1942: Payment Centers Origins

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: Social Security Board Renamed

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

1946: SSB Renamed Social Security Administration

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

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

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

1960: SSA Relocates to Woodlawn

In 1960, the Social Security Administration relocated from the Candler Building 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 contributors have no contractual right to receive what they paid into it.

1972: Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) Introduced

In 1972, Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) were introduced into Social Security Administration (SSA) programs to address the impact of inflation on fixed incomes.

1972: 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 called Old-Age Assistance, Aid to the Blind, and Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled.

1974: SSI Program Operations Began

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

1975: Payment Center Relocation to Richmond

Around 1975, the Social Security Administration moved payment center operations from 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: Social Security Coverage Exceptions

Prior to 1984, federal employees were not required to participate in the Social Security program. 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 Government Employees

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: Opening of Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building

In 1988, the new 11-story building in Jamaica, named the Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building, opened. The building was planned for a revitalization zone in the center of the Jamaica area of Queens.

1994: SSA Returns to Independent Agency Status

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

2007: Office of Hearings and Appeals name changed to Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR)

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

2010: Social Security Benefits Paid in 2010

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

2018: SSA Employment Figures

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

2019: SSI Recipients in 2019

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

2019: Individuals Served by Field Offices

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

2019: Field Office Visits

In fiscal year 2019, 43 million individuals visited Social Security Administration field offices for services such as applying for benefits and obtaining Social Security cards.

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, the Social Security Administration expected to pay out $1.2 trillion in Social Security benefits to 66 million individuals. Additionally, $61 billion was expected to be paid in SSI benefits to 7.5 million low-income individuals.

2024: BabyCenter reports naming trends in real time.

In 2024, BabyCenter, which analyzes data from more than 500,000 parents actively registering births on their site and app, publishes naming trends in real time. BabyCenter's name reports differ from SSA's official release by showing trends months ahead of the SSA release, and without geographic registration minimums.

April 2025: False Listings of Living Immigrants as Deceased

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

August 2025: Whistleblower Complaint Regarding Data Security

In August 2025, a whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that DOGE uploaded a database of Americans' sensitive Social Security information to an unsecured server, compromising the data of millions of people. The whistleblower, the agency's chief data officer, resigned after being subjected to a hostile work environment.

2025: Abolishment of WEP/GPO

Prior to 2025, individuals who worked part of their careers in covered employment and part of their careers in non-covered employment and who received pensions from non-covered employment may have had their Social Security benefits reduced through the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO). However, this was abolished with the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act in 2025.