The Social Security Administration, account by account.

SSA's benefit programs and its administrative accounts from the FY2027 Budget Overview, in two strictly-separate dialects. Mandatory — the benefits paid directly to beneficiaries (the off-budget OASDI trust funds plus on-budget SSI). Discretionary — the Limitation on Administrative Expenses that runs the agency, plus Research & Demonstration and the Inspector General. FY2025 actuals, FY2026, and the FY2027 request.

FY27 mandatory benefits

paid to beneficiaries

FY27 discretionary admin

Total, Budget Authority

OASDI trust funds (off-budget)

OASI + DI

Admin as % of benefits

less than one percent

Mandatory — benefits paid to beneficiaries

Trust Fund programs (OASDI) — off-budget

AccountFY25 actualsFY26FY27 request

General Fund programs (SSI) — on-budget

AccountFY25 actualsFY26FY27 request
Total, Mandatory benefits

Benefit figures are outlays from the source's one-decimal-billion table (footnote: “Totals may not add due to rounding”). OASI (established 1935) is retirement and survivors benefits; DI (1956) is disability; SSI (1972) is for aged, blind, and disabled people with income and resources below set limits. These are paid directly to beneficiaries, not procured through contracts.

Discretionary — the administration that runs the agency ($ in millions)

Limitation on Administrative Expenses (LAE), by object

AccountFY25 actualsFY26FY27 request

Other appropriated accounts

AccountFY25 actualsFY26FY27 request
Total, Budget Authority

The LAE is SSA's main administrative account; its objects are Payroll, Other Objects, Disability Determination Services (the State DDSs that make medical determinations), and Information Technology Services. Research & Demonstration draws on a portion of the SSI appropriation; the Office of the Inspector General is funded from both the trust funds and the general fund.

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