Social Security Administration
SSA · FY2017–FY2026 budget trends
Administers Social Security retirement and disability benefits for over 70 million Americans. Manages the Supplemental Security Income program for aged, blind, and disabled individuals. Spends $1.7 billion on contracts to run the nation's largest entitlement program.
💰 Taxpayer Accountability
With the trust fund projected to be depleted by the mid-2030s, every dollar spent on administration rather than benefits draws increasing scrutiny. The disability determination process is plagued by backlogs and inconsistency, and Congress has repeatedly raided the trust fund for other spending — leaving future retirees to foot the bill.
Budget Authority (FY2026)
$473.7B
Total Contracts
$1.7B
Total Grants
$0
Budget Growth (FY17→25)
+64.9%
+$643.6B
Budget Trend
Year-over-Year Changes
| FY | Budget | YoY | Obligated | YoY | Outlays | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $1.1T | — | $1.1T | — | $1.1T | — |
| 2018 | $1.1T | +3.5% | $1.1T | +3.6% | $1.1T | +3.6% |
| 2019 | $1.2T | +5.7% | $1.2T | +5.7% | $1.2T | +5.7% |
| 2020 | $1.2T | +4.9% | $1.2T | +4.9% | $1.2T | +4.8% |
| 2021 | $1.3T | +2.7% | $1.2T | +2.7% | $1.2T | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $1.4T | +9.3% | $1.4T | +9.3% | $1.3T | +8.3% |
| 2023 | $1.5T | +10.3% | $1.5T | +10.4% | $1.5T | +10.2% |
| 2024 | $1.6T | +6.5% | $1.6T | +6.7% | $1.6T | +7.2% |
| 2025 | $1.7T | +8.2% | $1.7T | +8.2% | $1.7T | +8.4% |
| 2026 | $473.7B | -72.8% | $446.2B | -74.4% | $441.0B | -74.5% |
How This Agency's Growth Compares
Social Security Administration grew +64.9% from FY2017 to FY2025 — #8 growing of 18 major agencies.
| # | Agency | Growth % | Growth $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Energy | +154.4% | +$49.4B |
| 2 | Department of Homeland Security | +153.1% | +$44.4B |
| 3 | General Services Administration | +107.7% | +$12.9B |
| 4 | Department of Transportation | +97.4% | +$66.5B |
| 5 | Department of the Interior | +90.5% | +$8.8B |
| 6 | Department of State | +84.0% | +$16.2B |
| 7 | Department of Health and Human Services | +66.7% | +$809.9B |
| 8 | → Social Security Administration | +64.9% | +$643.6B |
| 9 | Department of Defense | +52.8% | +$173.1B |
| 10 | Department of Agriculture | +49.9% | +$61.7B |
| 11 | Department of Housing and Urban Development | +43.8% | +$23.7B |
| 12 | Department of Veterans Affairs | +41.7% | +$84.8B |
| 13 | Department of Education | +28.1% | +$21.1B |
| 14 | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | +24.4% | +$4.5B |
| 15 | Railroad Retirement Board | +15.1% | +$1.9B |
| 16 | Department of Labor | +10.1% | +$1.1B |
| 17 | Department of Justice | -2.5% | -$292.0M |
| 18 | Agency for International Development | -26.6% | -$4.4B |
Related Agencies
Related Pages
Budget Functions
How federal spending is categorized by purpose and function.
Read more →Top Contractors
Which companies receive the most federal contract dollars.
Read more →Spending Explosion
How federal spending has grown dramatically since 2017.
Read more →Sub-Agencies
Detailed spending by sub-agencies and bureaus.
Read more →Source: USASpending.gov · U.S. Department of the Treasury