Social Security Administration (SSA) Annual Data for
Bilingual and Multilingual Employee Languages

Download this dataset

(Updated October 18, 2024)

This dataset contains data for fiscal year(s) 2024 on and is currently available in the following format(s):

Comma Separated Values (CSV)

Background

Social Security employees must have the resources to communicate with the American public, regardless of a person’s inability to communicate in English. To achieve our commitment to provide fair and equitable service, we hire and retain employees who are bilingual and multilingual. This practice enables us to provide interpreter and translator services to our customers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Our Agencywide bilingual and multilingual employees represent the communities they serve. This ensures our customers receive equal access to our programs and products in the customers’ preferred language. Bilingual and multilingual employees are stationed across the nation, in both regional offices and headquarters.

We also maintain a Nationwide Translators Database consisting of certified bilingual and multilingual employees. These employees assist our customers to conduct business in languages other than English.

Dataset Index

Agency Program Description

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers retirement, disability, and survivor's benefits. We also enroll people in Medicare. To be eligible for these benefits, most American workers pay Social Security taxes on their earnings. Future benefits are based on the employee’s contributions. Social Security taxes fund the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Trust Funds that are used to pay Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits. Social Security:

• Administers the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a federal needs-based program financed through general revenue funds.
• Has approximately 60,000 employees that deliver services through a nationwide network of about 1,230 offices.
• Has a presence in several United States Embassies and Consulates around the world.

Back to Index

Dataset Description

This dataset displays the yearly national number of bilingual and multilingual employees and the languages in which they can provide service. We have more than 2,950 employees that provide interpreter and translation services in more than 47 languages.

Back to Index

Data Collection Description

Each spring we update the number of bilingual and multilingual employees and the languages in which they can provide service.

Back to Index

Notes

• Single asterisk (*): Data collected in the spring of each year.

Back to Index

Data Dictionary

Language: The languages in which employees can provide service.

Fiscal Year (FY): The 12-month period from October 1 through September 30.

Back to Index