SSA Organizational Manual: Chapter TC - The Office of the Chief Actuary

1. Mission
   1. The Office of the Chief Actuary (OCACT) plans and directs a program of actuarial estimates and analyses pertaining to the SSA-administered retirement, survivors and disability insurance programs and supplemental security income program and to projected changes in these programs. Evaluates operations of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund; estimates future operations of the trust funds; conducts studies of program financing; performs actuarial and demographic research on social insurance and related program issues; and estimates future workloads. Provides technical and consultative services to the Commissioner, the Board of Trustees of those two Trust Funds, and, as requested, congressional committees. Appears before congressional committees to provide expert testimony on the actuarial aspects of Social Security issues.
2. Organization
   1. The Chief Actuary (TC).
   2. The Deputy Chief Actuary (Short-Range) (TC).
   3. The Deputy Chief Actuary (Long-Range) (TC).
   4. The Immediate Office of the Chief Actuary (TCA).
   5. The Office of Short-Range Actuarial Estimates (TCB).
   6. The Office of Long-Range Actuarial Estimates (TCC).
3. Functions
   1. The Chief Actuary (TC) is directly responsible to the Commissioner for carrying out OCACT's mission and for providing supervision to the major components of OCACT.
   2. The Deputy Chief Actuary (Short-Range) (TC) assists the Chief Actuary in carrying out his/her OCACT-wide responsibilities and performs other duties as prescribed.
   3. The Deputy Chief Actuary (Long-Range) (TC) assists the Chief Actuary in carrying out his/her OCACT-wide responsibilities and performs other duties as prescribed.
   4. The Immediate Office of the Chief Actuary (TCA) provides the Chief Actuary and his/her Deputies with staff assistance on the full range of their responsibilities; provides liaison and coordination; and conducts special actuarial studies and analyses.
   5. The Office of Short-Range Actuarial Estimates (TCB) is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the development of short-range cost estimates for all Social Security programs both under current provisions and proposed changes in law or regulation. The programs for which estimates are prepared include the retirement, survivors and disability insurance program, and the supplemental security income program. Develops special cost analyses involving technical actuarial issues; projects operations of the Trust Funds; provides a variety of data services including data collection, statistical support; and prepares estimates for general fund and interprogram reimbursement.
   6. The Office of Long-Range Actuarial Estimates (TCC) is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the development of long-range cost estimates for the retirement, survivors and disability program both under current provisions and proposed changes in law or regulation. Provides all revenue estimates in both the near-term and the long-term for the retirement, survivors and disability insurance program and in the near-term for the hospital insurance program. Designs the economic, demographic and programmatic assumptions and the methods needed to develop these estimates; analyzes and publishes actuarial research based on projections and actual program experience; and provides authoritative advice to agency policy makers and congressional staffs relating to the long-range actuarial impact of current law and proposed program changes.