Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) mission is to advance the economic security of the nation’s people through its leadership in shaping and managing America’s Social Security programs.

SSA is facing challenges on a number of fronts—outmoded eligibility criteria, disability claims processing, service delivery, and trust fund solvency. SSA has experienced significant growth in its disability programs and is struggling to keep pace with large number of applications for benefits, resulting in large backlogs and long waits for claimants. Moreover, the criteria the agency uses to make decisions about eligibility for benefits may not sufficiently assess the work capacity of individuals in the 21st century. SSA is also having difficulty fulfilling its other many responsibilities, including processing retirement claims, helping to administer the Medicare prescription drug program, verifying employees’ authorization to work, and performing program integrity activities. Further, the aging of the baby boom generation, increased life expectancy, and declining birth rates have adversely affected the long-term financial sustainability of the Social Security trust fund.