Crow’s Feet Writing Prompt #63: Looking Forward
Social Security is 89 Years Old!
Let’s celebrate its past and look ahead to its future
On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. It was a cornerstone of the forward-looking reforms that were packaged together as the “New Deal.”
Social Security was born at a moment in history when the Great Depression had put over half of the aged population in the U.S. in jeopardy because they could not support themselves. Prior to Social Security, destitute older Americans had only their families, “poorhouses,” and paltry social services to rely upon. While some states tried to remedy the situation by instituting state pensions, it was an inadequate solution for most seniors.
Labor Secretary Frances Perkins lobbied Roosevelt to support a package of social welfare benefits that would include Social Security. While Social Security had vocal critics, especially those who objected to a payroll tax, once the American public understood its value, Social Security became arguably the federal government’s most popular program.
Social Security today
Today, 96 percent of the population is eligible to receive Social Security benefits when they…
