Martin J. O’Malley Sworn in as Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: December 20, 2023
Martin J. O’Malley was sworn in today by Senator Ben Cardin as Commissioner of Social Security to a term that expires on January 19, 2025.
Commissioner O’Malley expressed his gratitude for being chosen to lead the Social Security Administration. “I am honored for the opportunity of a lifetime to lead Social Security’s outstanding public servants forward, together, in such an important mission to help the agency to deliver critical services to the American people,” said Commissioner O’Malley. “Social Security is the most far-reaching and important act of social and economic justice that the people of the United States have ever enacted. For tens of millions of Americans across our country, Social Security is the difference between living with dignity or living in poverty.”
A lifelong public servant, Commissioner O’Malley brings a vast amount of experience to the position. He served as Governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015, following two terms as Mayor of the City of Baltimore. Prior to being elected Mayor, he served as a member of the Baltimore City Council from 1991 to 1999 and Assistant States Attorney for the City of Baltimore before that.
Commissioner O’Malley is a pioneer in using performance-management and customer service technologies in government and has written extensively about how to govern for better results in the Information Age by measuring the outputs of government on a real-time basis.
As Commissioner, Mr. O’Malley will be responsible for administering the Social Security retirement, disability, and survivors insurance programs that pay over 1.4 trillion dollars annually in benefits to more than 66 million beneficiaries, as well as the Supplemental Security Income program that provides cash assistance to approximately 7.5 million people with limited income and resources. The agency has a workforce of about 61,000 employees and 1,500 facilities across the country and around the world.
Since 2016, Commissioner O’Malley has lectured on public administration at numerous universities and institutions, including the University of Maryland, Harvard University, Georgetown University, and Boston College School of Law.
Commissioner O’Malley graduated from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in 1985, and earned his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1988. He and his wife of over 30 years, Judge Katie Curran O’Malley, have four children, Grace, Tara, William, and Jack.
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Margaret H.
Dear Mr. O’Malley
I desperately need help with SS threatening to hold my SS payment for May and June. I can’t afford not getting those payments. They “think” I owe an overpayment that was back in 2010 but I already paid that off before I got married in May of 2010. They are all messed up. No one seems to want to help so please help solve this issue.
Walter F.
How do I contact you or someone in SSA about progressing my wife’s application for retirement benefits? Her application has been in process for 5 months. Every time she speaks with someone in SSA they say they are too busy answering phone calls to help her.
Sue
We’re sorry about your wife’s experience, Walter. She can check the status of her retirement application with her personal my Social Security account or with our automated telephone services. She can call us at 1-800-772-1213 and, at the prompt, respond “application status.” For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. If she still needs assistance, she can contact her local Social Security office and ask to speak with a supervisor. We hope this is resolved soon.
Sheila B.
I have paid into Social Security for last 50 years. I cannot get clear answers about SSDI or SSI. My application keeps getting lost. I select an SSDI attorney there dragging. I have various illnesses and is difficult getting up holding a job while my lively hood is being ignored. At least allow working citizens to get back what was paid in. I would like to just speak to someone who can answer my questions and Handel my case all the Way through. Because evert time I call my file is lost.
Please assist.
Sheila.craytonbell@gmail.com
Sue
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, Sheila. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To discuss your application with a representative, you can contact your local Social Security office or call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wait times are typically shorter Wednesdays through Fridays or later in the day. We hope this helps.
Miley C.
How about taking some responsibility and reinstate statute of limitation on ssa over payments? I have been issued overpayment clear back in 2007 resulting to almost 200,000.00 . SSA wanted all the benefits they paid me repaid back in 30 days . Benefits from 2007-2023. How unfair is this ? Why approved my SSDI based on my medical issues then issue overpayment telling me I never qualified because I engaged in work activity . What does my 2014-7 difficulty of care unearned income have anything to do with my SSDI benefits ? Why did SSA decide after almost 17 years to take back in 30 days my 17 years of benefits , then tell me they won’t change their decision even if I appeal ! I think it’s very cruel and irresponsible!
Sue
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, Miley. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Our new policy allows us to collect 10% of your total monthly Social Security benefit to recover most overpayments. To speak with a representative, you can contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. To learn about recent updates in the overpayment recovery process, please read our blog. Your appeal and waiver options are explained in our Overpayments fact sheet. We hope this is resolved soon.
James A.
Just received a letter today that my Social Security check is on hold due to overpayment! 66 years old and receiving unemployment. Welcome to America! All the while the Illegal Immigrants are receiving money!
Sue
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, James. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To speak with a representative about your options, you can contact your local Social Security office. Or you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. To learn more about the most recent updates to our overpayment process, please read our blog. We hope this is resolved soon.
Leota
Dear Mr. O’Malley,
Please do something about the backlogs in your offices. I have been told that the Silverdale,WA office has backlogs. I assume that some of your other offices are also backlogged. Please get more people hired to help these workers. I am a retired civil servant. I would be more than happy to go and volunteer at the Silverdale office to do petty jobs like printing off documents for the technicians that are working there trying to help the SSI and SSA recepients get their issues resolved.
Vence M.
While revamping the social security as we know it. Now would be a good time to do away with the govt offset and windfall elimination act. After working 50 years, 17 years in the private sector paying my full amount into social security and 33 years working for my city. When I retired, my social security was cut by almost $600 monthly. I don’t understand or think it’s fair for this to apply to only 8 states. How could that be right. If you’re thinking my pension is high or large. You are highly mistaken. Its not. I paid my full amount those 17 years to receive my full amount when I did finally retire. Please do away with windfall elimination and govt offset as offer by John Larson 2100 act. And the the money we have been cheated out of since Reagan was in office.
Dulcena
Mr OMalley I desperately need to talk to you about the unfair practices and treatment of ppl by a alj locally. Please how do I reach you
Timothy S.
Why have I been given miss information for 17 years by the SSA I was given missinformation in 2007 about my work credits when I went to apply for disability It only took 15 years and hundreds of emails for y’all to realize that y’all made a mistake y’all reopened a 2014 disability claim only for it to be denied because of lack of medical evidence I lost medical records from at least seven doctors due to the length of time It took for y’all to realize the mistakes y’all had made in South Carolina doctors are only required to keep medical records 10 years had I not been given misinformation The medical records would have been there I could have also went to an SSA doctor to confirm The doctor’s findings but because it has been 17 years going on 18 years I am being screwed over and no one is correcting this problem The medical records I did have I submitted and the judge gave little credit to at what point does a licensed train medical professionals records become invalid The judge basically said that my testimony and my doctors were liars how can you do that so here I am with a $900 power bill no money and sold everything I own a value I applied for SSI and was denied because of a piece of property that I cannot legally sell because the deed is not in my name when I spoke to two SSA employees one at the Spartanburg SC office who said she was a supervisor her advice was hiring attorney when I called the 800 number asked to speak to an SSI expert she said she was and to hire an attorney she knows nothing about deeds of property and that we can’t just exclude property and according to the POMS manual if you legally cannot sell or liquidate resources then it is not considered has a resource I am so tired of getting the runaround no one is willing to help and everyone I talk to could care less
Sue
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, Timothy. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If you disagree with a decision we’ve made and want to appeal it, visit our Appeals webpage. For more information, check out Understanding SSI/Spotlight on Getting SSI Benefits While You Try to Sell Excess Resources. We hope this helps.
Linda R.
How does Social Security collect for overpayment 20,30,40 years when the IRS has 10 years. There needs to be a time limit Social Security can collect.
Amy K.
I agree. I was issued an overpayment for 193,000 in 2022. SAA claimed I was never qualified for SSDI because I was a foster care provider for two individuals living with me. They approved my SSDI 2006 because of my medical issues . I became a foster care provider since 2005 even before ssa approved my SSDI . Now they wanted the whole amount paid in 30 days ! When is ssa be held accountable for their mistakes ?
Sue
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, Amy. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Our new policy allows us to collect 10% of your total monthly Social Security benefit to recover an overpayment. To speak with a representative, you can contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. To learn about recent updates in the overpayment recovery process, please read our blog. Your appeal and waiver options are explained in our Overpayments fact sheet. We hope this is resolved soon.