It was created by Congress and is appointed by the President and the Congress to advise the President, the Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on matters related to the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs.
[1] In the United States in 1994, when Congress passed legislation establishing SSA as an independent agency, it also created a seven-member bipartisan Board to advise the President, the Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on policies related to Social Security’s old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
The legislation passed both Houses of Congress without opposition and President Clinton signed the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994 into law (P.L.
Three of these are appointed by the President, of which a maximum of two may be members of the same political party, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
By statute, the members «shall be chosen on the basis of their integrity, impartiality, and good judgment, and shall be individuals who are, by reason of their education, experience, and attainments, exceptionally qualified to perform the duties of members of the Board».