Meet the Regional Commissioner

Beatrice M. Disman is the third Regional Commissioner of the Social Security Administration’s New York Region. A native New Yorker, Ms. Disman joined the Social Security Administration in 1965 as a direct service employee in a local field office.  As a career employee, she held progressively responsible positions including Senior Advisor to the Acting Commissioner of Social Security, before becoming the Region’s primary official in April 1995.

 As Regional Commissioner, Ms. Disman has direct authority over the Social Security Administration’s operations in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  This encompasses an annual administrative budget of approximately $400 million for more than 4,300 employees in 119 field offices, four teleservice centers, four Social Security Card Centers, the Northeastern Program Service Center and the Regional Office administrative staff.  Throughout the region, more than six million beneficiaries receive more than $63 billion in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits annually.  Ms. Disman was asked by the Commissioner of Social Security to chair the Agency’s Medicare Planning and Implementation Task Force, responsible for implementing the responsibilities given to Social Security in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 and the Affordable Care Act of 2010.  As Chair, she has had extensive interactions with other Executive Branch agencies.

 Ms. Disman earned a BA in History and Political Science from Brooklyn College, an MA in American Diplomatic History from Ohio State University Graduate School and an MBA from New York University’s Graduate School of Business.  She has also completed the LEGIS Fellows Program, serving as Legislative Assistant to a U.S. Senator, and completed a Program for Senior Managers in Government at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.  Ms. Disman is also an alumna of the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA.

 Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Disman has received numerous awards and commendations, including the New York State Medal of Honor, presented on behalf of the Governor for her tireless efforts to assist the families of victims from the attacks of September 11th.   Ms. Disman has received three Presidential Rank Awards, Citations from several Commissioners of Social Security and the Commissioner’s Leadership Award.  In 2005, she was one of two executives to receive the newly created Commissioner’s Trailblazer Award for leadership, tenacity, and creativity.

Chairman Emeritus of the New York Federal Executive Board, Ms. Disman served as its Chair from 1997 to 2003, leading the collaborative effort among 150 federal agencies throughout the City of  New York.  Similarly, she has chaired the Board’s Disability Awareness Committee since 1995, and the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund since 2000.  A tireless advocate for many social issues, Ms. Disman continues to serve her fellow New Yorkers in leadership roles in her local Community Board and several civic and non-profit organizations.

Social Security is truly America's premier family protection program.  As Regional Commissioner for the Social Security Administration's New York Region, I am proud of the quality service provided to you by our dedicated employees.  I welcome your suggestions on how Social Security can improve our services to you.  I encourage you to include your thoughts about the type of information you would like to see on our regional homepage.  If you have any questions or comments concerning Social Security, feel free to email me at beatrice.disman@ssa.gov or write me at: