Social Security was first suggested in a 1935 report by the Committee on Economic Security . It drew attention to the fact that workers who were disabled were seriously impacted by loss of income. As part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal package of reforms, the Social Security Act became law and attempted to address these problems.
The earliest version of Social Security included benefits for disability as well as retirement. It also provided death and survivorship benefits for spouses. 1974 saw the introduction of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which provided a form of welfare for disabled and low income workers.
Today the Social Security Administration overseas a number of programs, including the core benefits listed above as well as Medicaid and Medicare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Social Security programs account for a rapidly expanding percentage of the federal budget, a trend which is expected to continue until 2034.
As the demand for benefits increases, the application process becomes more and more difficult to navigate. As a result, many workers turn to social security disability attorneys to help them understand the system and file their application and supplementary documentation.