Who Leads the Social Security Administration?
The highest position at the Social Security Administration is the Commissioner. He or she heads the department, and reports directly to the President of the United States.
The Commissioner’s Office provides executive leadership, heading up the Social Security Administration. It is tasked with policy, administrative, and program development. It provides research on economic insecurity in America and interacts with the news media.
The current Commissioner, Andrew Saul, was appointed to position by President Trump on June 17, 2019. He will serve a 6-year term, ending in 2025. Serving under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Commissioner Saul previously headed the Federal Thrift Investment Board (FTIB) from 2002 to 2011. There he oversaw the Thrift Savings Plan, providing federal employees additional retirement security opportunities.
Commissioner Saul has stated an intention to review the SSA’s five-year IT modernization plan “from top-to-bottom.” He acknowledged that failed projects and cluttered systems have created a growing backlog of Social Security disability claims that needs to be addressed. At this time, the average wait for a Social Security disability hearing is one year.
In Kansas City, BurnettDriskill approaches Social Security with a “top-to-bottom” philosophy as well. We strive to learn all facets of the system, from the broad vision of the Commissioner down to the most up-to-date filing forms, to ensure that our clients have the smoothest experience possible in a confusing process.