Social Security Administration

Overview
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security &mdash; a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits. To qualify for these benefits, most American workers pay Social Security taxes on their earnings. Future benefits are based on the employees' contributions.

The Social Security Administration was established by a law currently codified at 42 U.S.C. § 901.