What level of government is responsible for implementing Social Security benefits?

The federal government is responsible for implementing Social Security benefits because this program is established and regulated at the national level. Social Security is a nationwide system that provides financial assistance to retirees, the disabled, and survivors of deceased workers. It is managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), which is a federal agency. The financing of Social Security comes from federal payroll taxes through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA).

Local and state governments do not administer Social Security benefits; their functions typically focus on community services, local infrastructure, and state-level programs. International organizations do not manage domestic social service programs either, as they tend to focus on global issues such as humanitarian aid and international cooperation. Therefore, the responsibility for Social Security lies squarely within the realm of federal governance.