Many countries have Social Security systems that provide benefits to those affected by unemployment, bereavement, disability and old age. In the United States, these benefits are offered by the Social Security Administration. The equivalent agencies in a number of other countries, such as the United Kingdom, are known by other names, such as the Department for Work and Pensions. They can be very helpful when you reach a certain age and need to start planning your retirement.

Each country's Social Security system is organized in a particular way. The collection of tax contributions and the distribution of benefits are subject to different laws and regulations, and the obligations and eligibility of the individual to make contributions and receive benefits will vary.

Social security systems are typically based on the idea of social insurance. Workers are taxed and the funds that are collected are used to pay benefits to those who are eligible. For example, an individual who makes contributions to a particular Social Security system may be eligible to receive a certain amount of retirement benefits when they stop working. The taxation of each generation of workers is used to provide support for the older generation and for those workers who have been affected by circumstances such as disability or unemployment. Each generation will then be supported by the following generation of workers.

Other government agencies may also be involved in dealing with other issues relating to work and pensions. In the United States, for example, the Department of Labor is involved in the regulation of pension plans such as the 401k and in the provision of certain types of support and benefits, such as unemployment insurance and health benefits. The Department of Labor focuses on providing assistance to those who are seeking employment, workers and the retired and on ensuring that their rights are protected.

Social Security systems are generally involved in similar aspects of work and retirement, but they are focused on providing a particular type of benefits and on collecting the funds to ensure that these benefits can be paid. The US Social Security Administration is run as an independent government agency.

Social Security systems are often one of the largest and most expensive elements of government. Both the US Social Security Administration and the UK Department for Work and Pensions are the largest departments in their respective governments. Both have very similar roles, notably in the provision of a system of social security, although there are some differences in their responsibilities and organization. The Department of Work and Pensions in the UK takes on some of the roles that the Department of Labor provides in the US, for example and plays more of an education role, encouraging the development of work related skills. However, it is also responsible for the payment of the State Pension and the National Insurance program, which is equivalent to the Social Security system and retirement benefits in the US.

The roles of Social Security services often enable them to provide useful information and statistics about the state of the nation, which they serve. The US Social Security Administration releases a list of the most popular baby names every year, taken from the applications for Social Security numbers made on behalf of newborns. The Administration also provides a useful genealogical research tool in the form of the Social Security Death Index. In the UK, the Department of Work and Pensions offer similar kinds of statistics to the public.