The Social Security Act Public Policy

1455 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social security and the great depression

The social security act was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt so that he could put in place provisions in order to help the elderly. The social security act a document that helps impoverished citizens, such as the elderly and physically impaired receive benefits after retirement. Citizens’ in America during the great depression where expected to work weather elderly or physically disabled. These citizens weren’t afforded the financial stability to retire so work was a necessity to acquire money. “Prior to social security, the elderly routinely faced the prospect of poverty upon retirement” (U.S SSA). This effect of the great depression led to a lot death and homes turning into singled parent homes with no income. “The widespread of suffering brought numerous proposals of national old-age insurance system” (U.S SSA). Roosevelt and his administration saw a problem and creating the social security act. The social security act contributed to the elimination of the great depression and the impoverished America.

Before the social security act of 1935 the support of the elderly was a “state matter”, the state held the power to regulate money that was given to the people. The elderly and physically disabled had to rely on their sates to implement programs to help them financially and most states during the great depression didn’t see this problem as a necessity. The Roosevelt administration caught this and created social security on a national level. “The social security act of 1935, an act which sought to provide general welfare by establishing a system of federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several states to make more adequate provisions” (SSA). The key word in the quote is “federal old age benefits” which means the...

... middle of paper ...

...at it will protect the people.
The social security act insured that the people rights where being upheld. The act being strongly supported by the Roosevelt administration aloud it to still be apart of today programs. The act was supported not only by the Roosevelt administration but the people and their advocation of rights forced the government to comply. The act assured the people then and know will be protected by the provision put in places as well as the federal government. The act necessary in the stability and development of the nation, and the insurance of the peoples well being.

Works Cited

http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1936/1936_837 http://www.dsusd.k12.ca.us/users/scottsh/Social%20Security%20Act%20of%201935.htm https://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v50n1/v50n1p5.pdf
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/551412/Social-Security-Act

Show More
Related

  • Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Impact On American Society

    1672 Words  | 4 Pages

    When he took office, 'the nation was in the fourth year of a disastrous economic crisis' and 'a quarter of the labor force was out of work [and] the banks had been closed in thirty-eight states' (Greenstein 16). In order to remedy these problems and restore trust in the government, FDR enacted the New Deal in the Hundred Days legislation. Many of the programs created in the legislation are still around today in some form, continuing to show FDR's influence on the modern presidency. Such programs as the Works Progress Administration and The Tennessee Valley Authority helped poor Americans unable to get jobs or afford the luxury of electricity. These programs were some of the major reasons FDR was so popular during his terms in office. Also created was the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insured the money in banks. This helped because then in the case of another bank crisis, people's money would not be lost. The FDIC was another reason, along with FDR's rhetoric, that people began to trust the banks and government again. One major policy FDR began was social security, which is still around today. When creating this idea of social security, it is clear he meant it to help the people, but also that he meant it to be permanent. FDR wanted, and received, a lasting effect on the government. By designing and implementing so many new programs and policies to help Americans, FDR showed what

    Read More

  • In Favor of Social Security Reform

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are millions of Americans affected by social security. These Americans rely on social security to provide them with financial security. Recently President Bush agreed to proposing a method of privatizing the social security program so that in the future the vast reserves of the social security system would not run out nearly as fast. With the always increasing rise in inflation, and the baby boomer generation reaching ages of retirement fairly soon, this is an issue that needs to be dealt with correctly and rapidly. The way the president is handling the situation is definitely the right way to do it. There are many things and ways in which to do it wrong, but the president seems to be pointing the plans of social security in the right direction. The president’s plans of reforming social security are right because the privatization is the best way to go, changing the rules for those who would apply for it increases the savings and makes the money go farther, and working with the distribution of different tax percentages would really make the money go a lot farther.

    Read More

  • Responsibility Taken by the Federal Government: Social Security

    1352 Words  | 3 Pages

    In America’s early days before the kickoff of industry, there was little need for retirement savings for a few key reasons. First of all, people were dying at a much earlier age; most people didn’t live past 38, whereas in 1900, 60 years of age was common for about 40 percent of the population and 15 percent experienced 80 years of life. Another reason for the irrelevance of social security in the 19th century and earlier was that people were usually living rurally on farms with extended families to take care of them. Furthermore, the Civil War also didn’t allow the government much economic room to consider providing a service such as social security. However, after the Civil War, pensions were a form of social security for civil war veterans that carried into their retirement. Unfortunately these pensions provided support for only a very small portion of the population; not even one percent of Americans received these pensions. Despite a much lower need for social security in the 18th ...

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Social Security

    1680 Words  | 4 Pages

    The original intention for creating social security was to act as a safety net for retirees, but as time passes, there seems to be a great deal of economic issues relating to the program. Social security was created to help benefit retired workers, spouses and children of deceased workers, as well as workers who have become disabled before retirement. This insurance program provides retirees with a steady income once they retire. President Roosevelt signed the program into law on August 14, 1935. Since then, social security has been beneficial to many workers and retirees.

    Read More

  • The New Deal And Reagan

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    The New Deal provided motivation for governmental action for fifty years. The material conditions of the nation could be cast into the frame of the New Deal and would motivate public action to address them. The way that they were addressed was framed by the New Deal's notion that the dispossessed of society were dispossessed because of the irresponsible actions of those at the top of the American economy. Government would become their representative in addressing the failures of capitalist leadership to protect the common man and woman. Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted the New Deal, which consisted of the Workers Progress Administration, and Social Security among several other programs.

    Read More

  • The New Deal Legacy Essay

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    It would be erroneous to assume that Roosevelt’s New Deal policies did not change America—they did. Although most of the New Deal programs no longer exist today, there were some policies that were integral to the advancement of American society. The most notable of these was the Social Security Act of 1935. Social security helped expand the governmental role of the president and was the blueprint for future welfare programs.

    Read More

  • The Depression: Two Phases Of The New Deal

    1653 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Social Security Act would give those who were over sixty five years old some type of aid every month and also create jobs for people. This policy also gave those who didn 't work some money so that they could survive more than they could have without money. The results of the New Deal were that people got jobs and money they needed. They were able to get money even if they weren 't working, which helped the people of that time. Despite all this, the New Deal did not end the Depression like it had hoped to do. What it did was show the people what the government was supposed or what they could do for them. As these policies came to light, people started wanting more and more so that they could continue getting jobs or money or whatever else they

    Read More

  • The New Deal And The Great Society Essay

    945 Words  | 2 Pages

    The New Deal occurred in 1933 when 13 million American workers lost their jobs. As a result of the massive job loss, thousands of workers demanded union recognition, unemployed Americans demanded food and shelter, and farmers demanded higher process on their goods. Federally funded jobs and social welfare programs to help the poor were set up by President Roosevelt in order to please the demands of the American people. The New Deal was established with the intention of improving lives, to save capitalism, and to provide a degree of economic security. In 1935, President Roosevelt passed the Social Security Act which, according to Katznelson, Kesselman, and Draper, “offered pensions and unemployment compensation to qualified workers, provided public assistance to the elderly and the blind, and created a new national program for poor single mothers” (332).This act allowed states to set the benefit level for welfare programs, which was set quite low (Katznelson, Kesselman, & Draper, 331-334). The Great Society programs were established by Lyndon Johnson in 1964 when Johnson declared war on poverty. This was would be the action that initiates the Great Society programs. The government used the New Deal as a foundation to build new welfare programs. Medicaid and Medicare were created to help poor and old people with their medical costs. Head Start was established to help low income

    Read More

  • The Future of Social Security

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    Social Security is a system that was set up in 1935 after the Great depression to help people get through tough times. "Social Security is now used by nearly 44 million Americans"(policy.com). Only people who payed into social security are eligible to collect when they retire. Many people think that they receive the money they pay in but that is not total true. The money that you pay in is used for the people that are receiving it now. "In 1950 there were 16 workers for every beneficiary; today there are only three workers per beneficiary"(policy.com). There is more money going into social security then coming out now. The extra money goes into a trust to be used when it is needed. By the year 2032 those numbers are going to drop. By this time most baby boomers will be retired and collecting social security. This will put a big strain on the funds. There will be more money going out then coming in. And it will not take long to use all the money that is in the trust. By the year 2034 they will only be able to pay 75 percent of the beneficiaries. "The projected average monthly Social Security benefit in 2032 of about 1,100 (in 1998 dollars) would fall to about $800, and would drop further in later years. Average benefits for low-wage earners would drop from $670 to $480"(www.ssab). Theses cut would effect the people just starting to receive benefits and those who are already receiving benefits. And with each year these benefits will decrease. As these benefits continue to decrease "the percentage of aged people living in poverty would rise"(www.ssab).Most people believe this is happening because of the baby boomers generation. There will be more people taking from social security then giving in. By the time my generation is eliable to receive social security there may not be any money to give.

    Read More

  • The Welfare Reform Law

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since the Welfare reform law was introduced in 1996 it has impacted American society greatly. The new welfare policy, named the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), replaced the Aid to Family and Dependent Children (AFDC) program; they have five known differences that only affect the ones who need the assistance. Critics argue that the TANF has negatively impacted the society while some argue that it has not. Linda Burnham, author of “Welfare Reform, Family Hardship & Woman of Color,” asserts that “welfare reform has increased the hardship faced by many women leaving welfare for work and their movement into low-wage jobs, exposes them to higher level of housing insecurities, homelessness, food insecurity, and hunger.” She also argues that women of color “are especially vulnerable to the negative impact of welfare reform” (38).

    Read More

  • Public Policy of Social Security and Retirement Savings

    1203 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Social Security Act was passed by President FDR as one of his programs to fight the Great Depression. The Social Security Act was enacted August 14, 1935 (Social Security Act). The current problem is the fear of what will become of Social Security as the baby boomers generation begins to retire. As millions of baby boomers approach retirement, the program's annual cash surplus will shrink and then disappear. Then, Social Security will not be able to pay full benefits from its payroll and other tax revenues (Social Security Reform Center – Problem). This is causing the U.S. government to think about reform and changes for the ...

    Read More

  • The First Political Parties

    2273 Words  | 5 Pages

    Davis, Kennith. “The Birth of Social Security.” In Visions of America’s Past, edited by William

    Read More

  • The Great Depression Essay

    1508 Words  | 4 Pages

    Social Security for the first time provided Americans with unemployment, disability and pensions for old age, which wasn’t there before and thanks to The Great Depression helps out all Americans that need economic relief while taking advantage of Social Security has arguably kept America out of economic chaos (“What is Social Security”?). The Great Depression led us to have a better economic system and changed economic thinking. Laws were passed in order to prevent another depression from happening. Although many years have passed since the Great Depression, things that were seen back then are still being seen today in 2014. High unemployment rates and low income among families forced to need the help of welfare are seen today as they were seen during the time of the Great Depression.

    Read More

  • Social Policy

    1873 Words  | 4 Pages

    In This essay I will look at what is new about New Labour in regard to

    Read More

  • Social Insecurity

    514 Words  | 2 Pages

    The birth of the social security program started as a measurement to implement “social insurance” during the great depression of the 1930s, when the New York stock exchange crash in 1929 America then slipped into economic depression with unemployment exceeded 25% so president Roosevelt’s sign the social security act to help the poverty rates among the senior citizen which exceeded 50%, since then social security has became increasingly controversial.

    Read More

More about The Social Security Act Public Policy

Open Document