===The goals of the Social Security program is to bring monetary assistance to specific and certain groups such as the elderly, disabled and widows. The goals of the social security program, as stated in their government page are, “to keep American families from becoming destitute--in health or in the essentials of life. We do not want a program which, alone, would enable anybody to live in luxury; but we do want a program that will assure every family in the Nation enough to live on in times of adversity.” (ssa.gov) To learn about one of America’s most successful program it is important as a reader to know that this program has been around for 80 years, since August 14, 1935 when President Franklin Roosevelt signed and made Social Security …show more content…
When they at some point reached their retirement age they were not able to relax and have leisure time, because economically they were not stable, contrary to retirees now less than 10 percent of the elderly population, widows and disables are living in poverty a big step compared to 80 years ago (Senator Bernie Sanders) The elderly in specific are benefited not only from the social security but Medicare as well another succesfull welfare program in the United States. The reason as to why the Social security program has been so successful is primarily because of all the benefits that it brings to its beneficiaries as stated in Chapter 17 “many people call the social security the most effective antipoverty program in the United States.” Another reason as to why the social security program is one of America’s most successful program in the United States is because it primary benefits one of America’s largest group, the elderly. This is important not just economically but politically, “The size of this group is of great political importance because the rates of voters turnout are greater among the elderly than among the rest of the population” (We The …show more content…
Organizations such as the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) have a very big influence among the elderly and the policy making that takes place. The reason as to why this is a strength is solely because when the AARP steps in for the elderly they are not only representing the elderly which are their primary goal but the disable and widows, two other groups of people that highly benefit from the social security program. As you where able to learn during the course, primarily in chapter 17 Social Policy, the AARP “pays close attention, when congress considers changes in programs that affect the elderly.” (We The People) These organizations devote their time and strengths in order to defend the Social Security Program; many times it was the AARP that stopped reforms from happening and affecting the Social Security Program such as in times like 2005 and 2009 when the AARP was either against or for health reforms being added into the Social Security Program. The weaknesses of the Social Security program could primarily be that economically the Social Security Program in several occasions was at risk of financially collapsing ( Peter Ferrara) If the Social Security Program were ever to fail this would mean thousand of beneficiaries would run the risk of not having any financial sustainability. In Peter Ferrera’s article, “The Future of Social Security” as
First off, the Social Security, as mentioned above has been very impactful. Its purpose was to provide an income for people 65 and above for their retirement. This pushed the elderly out of the workforce, allowing people entering the workforce to find a job at a time when jobs were scarce and people were looking for any kind of income they could find. Later, this program was evolved to include disability payments, and other sorts of financial security for the needy, and still exists today, showing the uber success that has been found from a program started in 1935.
Legislation created an act for retiring workers 65 or older because of the serious poverty situation. The Social Security Act covered elderly from poverty and they would receive payments so they could be covered when they retire. This was due to all the elders in the Great Depression in poverty; this now helps our modern society by helping elders when they retire. For the first time Americans were provided with unemployment, disability, and pensions for old age because of the Social Security Act in 1935 (History.com Staff). “By passing this act it helped all the people that were unemployed during the Great Depression, which will help benefit modern society to help get the people and us out of debt like not being able to pay for bills or needs.
Senior citizens were not able to work and because of the bank crash, many had lost all the money they had saved for retirement. In addition to this, many people were out of work, meaning that they could not afford to support the elderly members of their family. To solve this FDR created the SSA. The SSA provided a monthly income to senior citizens. it accomplished this by taxing the working class and business owners. This program still exists today, however, “in recent years concerns have arisen about the viability of continuing to fund the program as the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age” (Kelly, n.d.).
The Social Security system is perhaps the most successful government social insurance program in the nation 's history; and began with the Social Security Act in 1935. Social Security is a needed federal system that encourages income stability to millions of people across the United States. This is accomplished by giving a stable flow of income to replenish lost wages that occur as a result of disability, retirement, or death of a family member. There are about 59 million people in the U.S. that receive Social Security. Most of them are the required 65 years of age or older. Sadly about half of the 59 million people rely solely on Social Security to pay their bills and everyday necessities.
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
As a group, senior citizens exercise enormous political power. In the 1980s, based on inaccurate assumptions about the actual situation of the older population, severe cuts were made in Social Security, and Medicare. Social Security is a social insurance that provides economic assistance to people faced with unemployment, disability and also provides medical care for the elderly. Medicare was provided by the Social Security Act in 1965. It is a compulsory insurance that covers certain hospital services for people over sixty five and older. When Congress passed the
A landmark change in providing for the elderly came in 1935 with Franklin D. Roosevelt 's Social Security Act. While this provided aid to people with disabilities and mothers with children, aid was also mainly intended for the elderly. The premise of the act was that an individual would pay into the government through the years that they worked and upon retiring that person would receive benefits. Elderly Americans relied on this system to help pay for expenses that they might incur after they reached an age where they could no
Social insurance programs were designed to provide continuing income to citizens over 65 after retirement, health benefits and provide benefits for the unemployed, survivors and disabled. Social insurance programs are non-means tested, work based and incorporate a large number of people while public assistance
There is much-heated debate on the issues of Social Security today. The Social Security system is the largest government program of income distribution in the United States. People are concerned that they won't see a dime of what they worked so hard to contribute into the Social Security system for so many years. Social Security provides benefits to about forty-three million Americans. Not only to retired workers, but also to their spouses and dependents of the workers who die prematurely. It also provides benefits to disabled workers and their dependents. Social Security appears to most people like a simple retirement saving’s account. After all, you generally
Social security was created in response to the Great Depression. The purpose of it is to protect aged and disabled persons from illness expenses, to give children a chance to grow up healthy and secure, keep families together, and to augment the material needs of individuals and families. The Social Security Act was first passed in 1935 and later amended in 1956 to provide disability benefits. Some programs included under the Social Security Act are: retirement insurance, survivor’s insurance, disability insurance, and some public assistance and welfare services. The Social Security program is meant to provide benefits,social security numbers, and generate its own finances.
It is 2017 and I have just immigrated to the United States for the first time. This is a new world for me, but I know I will get the proper help in this wonderful country. First and foremost, my mother and I wasted no time in getting our social security numbers. These 9 numbers the government provides, allows us to get jobs, apply for a bank account, and even get a driver’s license. Now that I have received my social and I am 15 years old, my mother decided I needed to start acting like a responsible teenager. She has enlisted me to Woodrow Wilson High school to start my junior year. She also took me to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get driving classes to get my driver’s license. Lastly but not least, I applied for a job at the City
By the mid 1960?s, Social Security had demonstrated success by achieving its primary goal of reducing the percentage of elderly living in poverty. New legislation that included Medicare and Medicaid added to the success of Social Security by increasing the tax base for Social Security and raising benefits by 7 percent, by allowing retirement recipients to work without losing benefits, and by amplifying the definition of disability. In 1969 benefits were raised by 15 percent. In 1972 they were raised by 20 percent. They were, also, indexed to increase at the rate of inflation.
Social Security is a public program designed to provide income and services to individuals in the event of retirement, sickness, disability, death, or unemployment. In the United States, the word social security refers to the programs established in 1935 under the Social Security Act. Societies throughout history have devised ways to support people who cannot support themselves. In 1937 the government began issuing Social Security identification cards to all citizens. Each card had a unique number that the government used to keep track of a person’s earnings and the taxes collected from those earnings that went to finance Social Security benefits. The Social Security Act is an act in which
They, along with other old-age interests, however, have had to shift their role to a defensive one.11 The defeat of President Clinton’s health care reform package, which the AARP supported, dealt them a measurable political blow.12 The republican congressional take over of 1994 led to a scaling back of the federal government’s role, including programs designed to benefit seniors. The AARP believes big government to be essential to the welfare of seniors. This view comes in direct conflict with the Republican view stated in the “Contract With America”, that individuals and businesses can make more effective use of funds than the governmental bureaucracy.13 An understanding of this fundamental philosophical distinction provides one with the perspective to understand the AARP’s opposition to the privatization of programs important to seniors. These programs include social security, which the AARP describes as its “number one issue”, and Medicare.14 It also explains their fervent opposition to reductions in the rate of growth of the aforementioned
Another article related to this topic is “Understanding public attitudes towards Social Security” (Yang & Barret, 2006). Even though, the observation reflected a calm environment, the Social Security Administration office has been struggling in terms of its economy for many years. According to Yang and Barret’s case study, “ the Social Security system in the United States has served tens millions of Americans” and “finding of a positive relationship between age and support for Social Security also challenges much of the established knowledge, pointing to inter-generational discord over Social Security.” (Yang & Barret, 2006). Likewise, during the observation, people at the Social Security Administration office included great diversity.