SSA Budget Information
SSA serves millions of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries each month. The benefits these programs pay are part of the Federal Government’s mandatory spending because authorizing legislation (Social Security Act) requires us to pay them.
While Congress does not set the amount of benefits we pay each year, they decide funding for our administrative budget. Our administrative budget provides resources to administer Social Security and SSI programs as well as certain aspects of the Medicare program. It funds salaries and benefits for Federal SSA employees and for State employees at disability determination services (DDS) offices who make disability determinations for us. In addition, our administrative budget pays for other expenses, such as rent for our field offices across the country, our National 800 Number Network, and information technology costs. Each year, we must submit budget requests to Congress that justify our funding needs for the following year.
Budget Request
Highlights of the President’s Budget for SSA
FY 2018
The Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees informs members of Congress about SSA’s funding request, including how it will support performance goals and initiatives to improve service. For specific sections, please see the following:
- Budget Overview - The Overview provides a summary of SSA’s budget request, including funding and performance highlights.
Technical Materials supporting SSA’s budget request:
- Budget Summary Table and Other Key Tables
- Payments to Social Security Trust Funds
- Supplemental Security Income Program
- Limitation on Administrative Expenses
- Office of the Inspector General
- Annual Performance Plan
- Anti-Fraud Report as Required by the Bipartisan Budget Act
- Annual Performance Report
For detailed budget estimates, please see the SSA chapter in the FY 2018 Budget Appendix on the Office of Management and Budget’s website.
FY 2017
Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees:Technical Materials, February 2016:
- Budget Summary Table
- Payments to Social Security Trust Funds
- Supplemental Security Income Program
- Limitation on Administrative Expenses
- Office of the Inspector General
- Annual Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report
- Anti-Fraud Report
Full Justification of Estimates For Appropriations Committees, February 2016
Budget Appendix, February 2016
FY 2016
Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees:Technical Materials, October, 2015:
- Budget Summary Table
- Payments to Social Security Trust Funds
- Supplemental Security Income Program
- Limitation on Administrative Expenses
- Office of the Inspector General
- Annual Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report
Full Justification of Estimates For Appropriations Committees, February 2015
Budget Appendix, February 2015
FY 2015
Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees:Technical Materials, March 2014:
- Budget Summary Table
- Payments to Social Security Trust Funds
- Supplemental Security Income Program
- Early Intervention Demonstrations
- Limitation on Administrative Expenses
- Office of the Inspector General
- Annual Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report
Full Justification of Estimates For Appropriations Committees, March 2014
FY 2014
Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees:Technical Materials, Apr. 2013:
- Budget Summary Table
- Payments to Social Security Trust Funds
- Supplemental Security Income Program
- Administrative Expenses
- Office of the Inspector General
- Annual Performance Plan
Full Justification of Estimates For Appropriations Committees, April 2013
Historical Data
All historical documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view these files.