What programs does the Social Security Administration (SSA) administer?
SSA administers two major benefit programs. The largest is the Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) program, commonly referred to as the Social Security program. This program provides income for qualified workers who retire or become disabled and to their dependents or survivors. This is an earned benefit. The second is the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program which provides income for aged, blind and disabled persons and is a needs based program. • What is the Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) program? The RSDI program (Social Security) is a social insurance program that protects workers and their families from loss of earnings because of retirement, death or disability. We pay Social Security benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. These payments are financed through payroll taxes from employees, employers, and the self-employed. This tax is referred to as FICA. As you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn “credits” that c
