Department of Social Security (Australia)

Department of Social Security
Department overview
Formed	19 December 1972
Preceding Department	Department of Health (I) – for health and hospital benefits schemes Department of Social Services (I) – for all other functions;
Dissolved	21 October 1998
Superseding Department	Department of Family and Community Services;
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Employees	11,494 (in 1981)
Annual budget	$7.7 billion per year (estimate in 1981)
Department executives	Bruce Hamilton, Secretary (1972–1973); Louis Wienholt, Secretary (1973); Laurie Daniels, Secretary (1973–1977); Pat Lanigan, Secretary (1977–1981); Tony Ayers, Secretary (1981–1986); Derek Volker, Secretary (1986–1993); Tony Blunn, Secretary (1993–1998); David Rosalky, Secretary (1998);
Website	dss.gov.au

The Department of Social Security (the DSS) was a government department in Australia, which administered the Social Security system between 1972 and 1998. The department was one of several new departments established by the Whitlam government and was managed by the Minister for Social Security.