 thumb|right|one part of ssa headquarters in woodlawn, maryland thumb|right|another view of ssa headquarters the united states social security administration (ssa)(ssa pub. no 25-1556 p. 7) is an independent agency of the united states federal government that administers social security, 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 codified at . its current commissioner, carolyn w. colvin (acting), was sworn in on february 14, 2013, succeeding michael j. astrue. ssa is headquartered in woodlawn, maryland, just to the west of baltimore, at what is known as central office. the agency includes 10 regional offices, 8 processing centers, approximately 1300 field offices, and 37 teleservice centers. , about 62,000 people were employed by ssa.ssa, how we're organized, accessed 4 september 2007 headquarters non-supervisory employees of ssa are represented by american federation of government employees local 1923. social security is the largest social welfare program in the united states, constituting 37% of government expenditure and 7% of gdp.feldstein, m. (2005). rethinking social insurance. american economic review, 95(1), pp. 1-24. == history == the social security act created a social security board (ssb), to oversee the administration of the new program. it was created as part of president franklin d. roosevelt's new deal with the signing of the social security act of 1935 on august 14, 1935.(ssa pub. no 2
Baltimore_County,_Maryland_landmarks Government_agencies_established_in_1935 Independent_agencies_of_the_United_States_government New_Deal_agencies Social_Security_(United_States)