The United States Social Security Administration, also known as SS administration, is an administrative agency of the U.S. government which administers Social Security, an integrated social insurance program mainly consisting of disability, death and survivor benefits. The Social Security Administering Administration was founded in 1966 with the passage of the social security act. The primary function of the SS Administration is to administer the social security programs of the United States based on the policies and objectives contained in the social security act. Apart from this, the SS Administration is charged with providing assistance to people who are economically and mentally distressed due to accidents, job losses or involuntary separation. The SS Administration offers means tested programs and personal assistance to the needy through the application form for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

The SS Administration administers the federal Social Security program, including Medicare and Medicaid. It ensures that the beneficiaries of such welfare schemes attain financial independence by helping them gain employment and/or by helping them through disability benefits and retirement benefits. Amongst the various welfare schemes, the disability benefits and retirement benefits occupy the highest priority. The SS Administration monitors the eligibility of the individuals applying for these schemes and decides the benefits to be provided to the applicant on the basis of their disability and death. The applicant needs to meet a minimum age requirement and be a U.S. citizen to qualify for the SS disability benefits. Beneficiaries can also qualify for the SS retirement benefits, depending on their age and condition.

As per the social security act, people attaining the age of sixty-five or those who have reached the age of joining the workforce after attaining the age of eighteen need not pay any income tax at all towards the Social Security when they become eligible for retirement benefits. The Social Security Administration administers the SS retirement plans for retired personnel and annuitants. Retirement benefits are only available if the individual has retired from a regular and paid job. This includes regular coverage by federal or state employee retirement plans, and incentive plans such as group retirement annuities. It does not include self-employment income.

Self-Employed individuals and retired persons have the option of collecting four credits in order to qualify for social benefits. These individuals must maintain a total income exceeding the maximum disability income provided for under the SS regulations. In order to apply for retirement benefits, the applicant must have already completed two years of full-time employment in a job that pays at least the maximum annual salary.

A retired person who does not qualify for social retirement benefits because he or she did not work for a minimum of ten years before reaching the age of sixty-five may still qualify for medical assistance. Under the rules laid out by the social security administration, retirees must meet a minimum period of disability before they are allowed to collect monthly benefits or begin receiving medical aid. To qualify for benefits, the retiree must also have a sufficient source of income after the disability. Usually, this means the retiree must have at least a five-year period of full-time employment with no breaks due to unemployment lasting fewer than five years.

The age of the applicant also determines how long it takes for him or her to become eligible for benefits. At present, the maximum waiting period for Social Security retirement benefits is sixty-five years. Applicants over the age of sixty-five must generally wait until they are age sixty seven, in order to begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits. In order to determine whether or not a person who is over the age of sixty-five qualifies for benefits, he or she must file a claim for Social Security retirement benefits with the local social security office. There is a form available for this purpose, which is commonly called the SSA form SSA-632.