Your Social Security

Social Security touches the lives of virtually every American. Whether it's after the loss of a loved one, the onset of disability or during the transition from work to retirement, our employees and programs offer support to the people of this country, often during difficult times. We run one of the nation's largest entitlement programs— the Old Age, Survivors and Disability program. We also administer the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. It provides financial support to aged, blind or disabled adults and children with limited income and resources.

You have a concept of what we do at Social Security, but how well do you really know what we do? Here's a quiz:

1. How many phone calls come into Social Security's toll-free number—1-800- 772-1213—each year?

a. 2.5 million
b. 57 million
c. 95 million

2. How many disability  applications are processed each year?

a. 2.5 million
b. 75,000
c. 200,000

3. How many earnings items are posted to workers' records?

a. 2 million
b. 100,000
c. 270 million

4. How many Social Security Statements do we send out each year?

a. 200 million
b. 147 million
c. 100 million

5. How many Medicare extra help applications for the prescription program do we process each year?

a. 530,000
b. 1.2 million
c. 4.2 million

6. How many appeal hearings do we hold each year?

a. 22,000
b. 548,000
c. 1.2 million

7. How many SSI applications for people 65 or older do we take each year?

a. 101,000
b. 90,000
c. 289,000

8. How many retirement, survivor and Medicare applications do we take each year?

a. 253,000
b. 839,000
c. 3.9 million

As you can see, the Social Security is more than just retirement payments and Social Security cards. The volume can be surprising, but one thing is not a surprise: Social Security has a long history of providing the best public service government has to offer.

Learn more interesting facts about Social Security by visiting our history page at www.socialsecurity.gov/history.

Answers: 1. b; 2. a; 3. c; 4. b; 5. b; 6. b; 7. c; 8. c.

Mr. Brown is District Manager of the Social Security Administration's Downtown New York Office.