Federal jurisdiction
The Social Security Administration is the federal agency responsible for Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security numbers and cards, and enrollment in Medicare.
What SSA manages
- Retirement, Disability, Survivor, and Family benefits under Social Security.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a separate needs-based federal program.
- Applications and records for Social Security numbers and cards.
- Enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B through Social Security.
- Personal benefit records, benefit verification letters, payment information, and certain account updates.
What SSA does not manage
- Medicaid eligibility or state Medicaid applications.
- SNAP, unemployment insurance, housing assistance, or state cash-assistance programs.
- Federal or state tax returns.
- Immigration status, passports, driver licenses, or vital records.
Another agency may ask for Social Security information, but that does not make SSA responsible for the other agency's application or eligibility decision.
Medicare premium determinations
Social Security determines whether IRMAA applies to Medicare Part B or Part D using IRS information and handles requests to use more recent income after a qualifying life-changing event. The current request uses Form SSA-44 or the official online service.
Official service channels
- SSA.gov home page
- Apply for Social Security benefits
- Manage Social Security benefits
- Official contact options
Related WhatDoIFile resources
- Correct a Social Security earnings record
- Report a death to Social Security
- Confirm whether a funeral home reports the death
- Get a Social Security benefit verification letter
- Get or replace a Social Security card
- Apply for retirement benefits
- Apply for disability benefits
- Request disability reconsideration
- Understand a missed appeal deadline
- Sign up for Medicare
- Understand Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Request a Social Security disability hearing
- Office of Hearings Operations
- Request Appeals Council review
- Apply for SSI
- Request an overpayment waiver
- Use the overpayment notice checklist
- Understand Social Security overpayments
- Request a lower overpayment recovery rate
- Appeal an overpayment decision
- Appeal a medical disability cessation
- Benefit continuation during a cessation appeal
- Disability cessation appeal checklist
- Statutory benefit continuation