The department is declared to be an institution of the state for which the powers of taxation over the whole state may be exercised, and the
department is empowered and authorized to administer, expend, and disburse funds appropriated to it and allocated to it by the General Assembly, the respective counties of the state, and the United States, through its appropriate agencies and instrumentalities for the purpose of distributing old-age benefits and all other benefits as provided in this title.