United States Social Security Administration

**Definition:** An independent agency within the Executive Branch of the United States Government. It administers a national social insurance program whereby employees, employers, and the self-employed pay contributions into pooled trust funds. Part of the contributions go into a separate hospital insurance trust fund for workers at age 65 to provide help with medical expenses. Other programs include the supplemental social security income program for the aged, blind, and disabled and the Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Program. It became an independent agency March 31, 1995. It had previously been part of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, later the Department of Health and Human Services. (From United States Government Manual, 1994-95)

**Tree numbers:** - I01.409.418.750.999 - N03.540.348.500.500.999

**Synonyms:** - Social Security Administration (U.S.) - Social Security Administration - Social Security Administration, United States