Social Security Administration (SSA) Quarterly Data for
Types of Public Inquiries Received
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(Updated )
This dataset contains data for fiscal year(s) 2013 through the first quarter of 2018 and is currently available in the following format(s):
Background
The goal of the Social Security Administration (SSA) is to improve core services provided to the public and provide alternative methods for conducting business with the agency. The Office of Public Inquiries and Communications Support (OPICS) is the receipt, control, response, and referral point for public inquiries addressed to the Commissioner and OPICS. This dataset reflects a categorization of inquiries from the public. As of the first quarter of 2018, SSA no longer plans to aggregate and report this data.
Dataset Index
Agency Program Description
In carrying out its responsibilities, OPICS does the following:
- Responds to public high-priority inquiries.
- Identifies the most sensitive inquiries in order to be brought to the attention of the Office of the Commissioner.
- Provides ombudsman services for telephone inquiries referred from the Office of the Commissioner.
- Develops and issues online agency-approved guide language (over 900 paragraphs) for use in answering inquiries throughout SSA.
- Provides statistical information to the Office of the Commissioner and the Office of Communications on current trending issues.
- Handles complimentary letters sent to the Commissioner regarding service provided by SSA employees or offices.
- Prepares SSA employees' retirement letters for the entire agency.
For information about sending mail inquiries to Social Security, go to: Contact Social Security By Mail
Dataset Description
This dataset gives a breakdown of the incoming inquiries categorized by topics by quarter. These topics include program and post entitlement issues as well as questions regarding earnings and Social Security numbers. Additionally, this dataset shows the number of inquiries related to miscellaneous topics. Examples of inquiries we include in the miscellaneous topic are service complaints, fraud/ID theft, trust funds, and personnel/administrative issues.
The data source was the Electronic Management of Assignments and Correspondence system (EMAC), which we are in the process of re-engineering. When the new EMAC is available, it will provide improved, automated management information. We will post additional data after the new system is operational.
Notes
- A Federal Fiscal Year (FY) is the 12-month period that starts the Saturday after the last Friday of September and ends the last Friday of September. Most years our fiscal year workload reports contain 52 weeks since we include only full weeks, rather than cut off in the middle of a week. Every few years the reporting period is 53 weeks when we apply the end of week cutoff.
- Reporting quarters are administratively set reporting periods and do not necessarily correspond exactly to calendar months.
- Single asterisk (*): Examples of Miscellaneous Categories are: Service Complaints, Fraud/ID Theft, Trust Funds, Personnel/Administrative Issues.
Data Dictionary
Fiscal Year (FY): The 12-month period that starts the Saturday after the last Friday of September and ends the last Friday of September.
Quarter (QTR): The quarter of the fiscal year.
Program Issues: The number of inquiries received pertaining to Social Security program issues.
Post-entitlement Issues: The number of inquiries received pertaining to post entitlement issues. These include issues occurring after an individual is receiving benefits.
Earnings: The number of inquiries pertaining to earnings. These include issues about earnings and wages reported to Social Security and/or earnings reflected in the agency's records.
SSNs: The number of inquiries pertaining to Social Security numbers, including Social Security cards.
Miscellaneous: The number of inquiries pertaining to other kinds of issues including service complaints, fraud/identity theft, trust funds, and personnel/administrative issues.