Social Security Administration Establishing National Native American Office
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 4, 2022
Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi announced that the Social Security Administration (SSA) established an Office of Native American Partnerships within the Office of the Commissioner.
New Office to Advocate for Tribes
This office will elevate and centralize efforts to administer comprehensive programs and policies related to American Indians and Alaska Natives. It will enhance the agency’s relationship with Tribes and serve as the primary point of contact on Tribal affairs for all stakeholders.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to reducing barriers to ensure people who are eligible for our benefits receive them,” Acting Commissioner Kijakazi said. “Establishing our new Office of Native American Partnerships strengthens that commitment by providing Tribal communities more representation and a strong advocate, messenger, and facilitator within Social Security’s Office of the Commissioner.”
The Office of Native American Partnerships will be responsible for many functions to assist Tribal communities throughout the country. It will seek to improve services to communities by engaging in meaningful national and regional policy consultations, roundtable discussions, and seminars with Tribal and Federal experts. It will also coordinate internal agency Native American efforts, increase external program awareness to the Tribal community, help to recruit a diverse candidate pool for hiring at all levels of Social Security, and serve as the primary point of contact for Tribal Government Offices to foster transparency and collaboration. Additionally, the office will conduct ongoing data collection and analysis to improve outreach to Tribal communities.
Establishing the Office of Native American Partnerships supports President Biden’s 2021 Executive Order (EO) 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities, as well as other Federal guidance on coordination and collaboration with Tribal Governments.
To learn more, please visit our American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) page.
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Bob A.
It’s a nice gesture but what is needed is outreach to all communities regardless of ethnicity or race. If native Americans meet all of the same requirements to receive social security benefits as everyone else then of course we need to help them access it as we do everyone else. I live within a reservation boundary and the most effective way to reach tribal members is always to utilize tribal members to teach and be an accessible resource to the community, just like we do everywhere else.
Cynthia O.
American Indians are not receiving more than other groups and if you believe that, you are really misinformed.
The government has failed at setting up programs in the past to assist tribal enrolled members of their own tribe. The language changes of referring to nations instead of tribes is something derived from who knows where. Not confident I will see anything good come from this. Just gave someone a job and title.
You have to live it to understand the lives on the reservations. We work all of our lives for our social security benefits, just like others who actually work. Cannot compare or understand unless you are American Indian. (Native American was a government term).
Duane K.
I thought we were all equal ! ! Why should “Native Americans” be treated better than I AM ! ! they do Nothing to help support Social Security ! ! They only Take as they always have and give Nothing in return ! When if ever are WE all going to be considered Americans as a group !
Nick E.
You have got to be kidding!
Cheryl B.
The focus needs to be quality healthcare! The tribal health compacts don’t provide healthcare to me after they infected me w hepatitis C twice! I want a choice not a monopoly. They have never cared about me or my family they only exclude people who don’t kiss their ass! Start charging Rico for taking money for bonuses out of the healthcare fund! Support accountability, equality and uniform harmonization of law – All people are people. Protect their employees & their employees children. Quit hiring non-medically trained people to destroy our health and force us in on Medicaid after they ruin our lives!
val b.
I’m not Native and I think this is good if it provides comprehensive services to the Native Tribes and not just collect data to enrich government officials and vendors.
Many times
“helping vulnerable communities” can become beneficial to others and not struggling communities. I’d like to see power sharing and it can start by inviting Native people to the table and establishing a place for them where their suggestions
are implemented and become policy. Hiring Natives is fine, the work of change does not stop there.
MajJohn
All people should be treated the same regardless of their status or background. This should have been done years ago. Now, it seems that in order to right past wrongs we have to be patronizing and have a special office for every segment of society. Treating people “special or differently” is what got us into trouble in the first place.
read u.
Genocide
Wren P.
Thank you for establishing this much- needed service. Although it would have been helpful since the inception of the SSA, I rejoice in this small gesture toward doing rightly toward our indigenous predecessors.
Dustin J.
I am not good with computers and things
Jan R.
It’s about time someone took a look at this. Way overdue.