Social Security timeline
• 1935 The 37-page Social Security Act signed August 14 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The legislation included Unemployment … See more

Benefit types
The Social Security program in the United States pays benefits to three broad categories of individuals: retired individuals and some family members, disabled persons and some family members, and survivors. Within … See more

Tax on wages and self-employment income
Benefits are funded by taxes imposed on wages of employees and self-employed persons. As explained below, in the case of employment, the employer and employee are each … See more

Proposals to reform of the Social Security system have led to heated debate, centering on funding of the program. In particular, proposals … See more

The larger and better known programs under the Social Security Act are:
• Federal Old-Age (Retirement), Survivors, and Disability Insurance, OASDI
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF See more

Joining and quitting
Obtaining a Social Security number for a child is voluntary. Further, there is no general legal requirement that individuals join the Social Security program unless they want, or have, to work. Under normal circumstances, … See more

Claim of discrimination against the poor and the middle class
Workers must pay 12.4 percent, including a 6.2 percent employer contribution, on their wages below the See more