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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Social Security Administration
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A quick definition of Social Security Administration:
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a government agency that helps people who are retired, disabled, or have lost a loved one who was supporting them. They give money to people who have paid taxes into the program or who have very little money. The SSA also helps determine who is eligible for Medicare, which is a program that helps pay for healthcare for older people and those with disabilities.
A more thorough explanation:
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a government agency that was created in 1935 as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. Its main responsibility is to manage the old age, survivors, and disability insurance programs (OASDI), which is commonly known as “social security”.
OASDI provides payments to eligible retired individuals, families who have lost a wage earner, and people with disabilities based on the person’s contributions to the program. For example, if someone has worked and paid into the social security program for a certain number of years, they may be eligible to receive monthly payments when they retire.
Another program that the SSA manages is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI payments are given based upon a person’s income and only are available to those with very limited resources. For example, if someone has a disability and cannot work, they may be eligible to receive SSI payments to help them pay for basic needs like food and housing.
The SSA also does some of the screening for Medicare eligibility, but the programs mostly operate separately.
Overall, the Social Security Administration plays an important role in providing financial support to individuals and families who need it most.
Social Security | Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD)