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On August 14, 1935, the Social Security Act became law above President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signature. The Social Security Act is one of the truly momentous legislative accomplishments in United States history. Enacted in the throes of the Great Depression, it was a sweeping bill that generated an array of programs to aid numerous groups of Americans.
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Because the Social Security Board didn't have necessary resources, they contracted with the US Postal Office to distribute and collect applications, as well as typing and delivering the new SS cards. Over 35 million cards were issued in 1936-37.
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First Social Security Card issued by Post Offices, over 20 million issued in first year. Workers begin contributed into the social security fund and receive credit for the time they works
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Amendments to the original act provided two new categories of benefits, dependent and survivors, spouse and children of a retired worker. This broadened the scope of the act considerably. The beginning of monthly payments was also moved forward from 1942 to 1940.
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First monthly check was issued to Ida Mae Fuller for $22.54.Prior to this, any payments due were delivered as lump sum refunds. The average payment from 1937 to 1940 was $58.06.
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For the first time, retirement benefits were raised. These amendments also placed the program on track to cover nearly everyone in the nation, as it does today. In 1950, only about 50% of workers were covered.
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The Social Security Act was amended to provide benefits to disabled workers between 50-65 years old, as well as disabled adult children. Congress expanded this program over the following years to include dependents of disabled persons, and eventually coverage for disabled workers of any age.
the tax rate was raised to 4.0 percent (2.0 percent for the employer, 2.0 percent for the employee). Women were allowed to retire at 62 with benefits reduced by 25 percent. -
retirement at age 62 was extended to men, and the tax rate was increased to 6.0%
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Medicare offered health coverage to social security beneficiaries. Initially, this only applied to those 65 and over, but it was eventually expanded to all recipients. 20 million joined in three years
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Medicare tax of 0.7% was added to pay for increased in medicare expense.
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In 1972 Congress federalized the “adult categories” by creating the Supplemental Security Income program and assigned responsibility for it to the SSA. In January 1974, the Supplemental Security Income program commenced nationwide.
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Yearly Cost Of Living Adjustments go into effect, as legislated in 1972.
In 1972, benefits could only be raised by a special act of Congress. COLAs, or Cost Of Living Adjustments, were set as automatic, annual features in 1972, to reduce the effect of inflation. Wage-indexing was also introduced, to ensure that benefits keep up with a worker's standard of living. * -
President Carter signed the Social Security Amendments of 1980. Chief changes: a more stringent maximum family benefit calculation; greater work incentives for disabled Social Security and SSI beneficiaries; and increased authority given the Secretary of HHS to establish, through regulations, performance standards and administrative procedures to be met by the States, including the authority to overturn State disability determination decisions.
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The Greenspan Commission was formed by President Reagan to study the financing issues the program was facing. The resulting bill included coverage for federal employees, increased reserves in SS trust funds, partial taxation of SS benefits, and a gradual increase in retirement age beginning in 2000. Retirement age increased for younger workers to 66 and 67 years.
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a set of reforms designed to pull-back on some of the perceived excesses of the Continuing Disability Reviews undertaken by the Social Security Administration in the wake of the mandates in the 1980 Social Security Amendments.
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As part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, a requirement was introduced that Social Security Statements be sent annually to those working under the program.
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Social Security becomes independent Agency. The commisioner of social Security began reporting directly to the President at this time. A permanent Ss Advisory Board was formed to provide independent advice on the program
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Drug addiction and alcoholism are eliminated as a basis
for disability under both the Disability Insurance (DI)
program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
program.The Social Security Administration
must: (1) notify current drug addiction and/or alcoholic
beneficiaries of the new provisions by June 27, 1996; and
(2) complete new medical determinations by January 1,
1997, for affected current beneficiaries who request a new
determination within 120 days after enactment of the
legi -
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The bill prohibits the payment of any retroactive Title II and Title XVI benefits to individuals while they are in prison, are in violation of conditions of their parole or probation, or are fleeing to avoid prosecution for a felony or a crime punishable by sentence of more than one year.
SSA would not pay these retroactive benefits until the beneficiary is no longer a prisoner, probation or parole violator, or fugitive felon.
