Understanding the Social Security Act

Abstract

Abstract America's social welfare commitments, including retirement and disability payments, unemployment insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, the State Child Health Insurance Program, Supplemental Security Income, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, face mounting pressures as economic and social challenges escalate. It was originally created in 1935 to mitigate the personal economic hardships of the Great Depression on future cohorts of Americans. Many social welfare policy experts fail to grasp the intricacy and complexity of America's obligations as they are woven together under the authority of the Social Security Act. While frequently examined for their separate distinguishing characteristics, the many programs of the Act are linked to one another so that modification to one program creates the need for change in other programs. An incremental development of America's social welfare commitments through the Social Security Act over the past 75 years has produced a confusing manifestation of social welfare undertakings, often making it difficult to comprehend and/or modify any single program without a comprehensive overview of the policy and program dynamics of America's complete social welfare commitments. The present economic recession highlights the necessity of the Social Security Act on the one hand, but also uncovers 21st century social welfare issues that cry for changes in those programs authorized by the Act. Still, the Social Security Act provides the only coherent policy framework for understanding America's effort to meet her social welfare commitments, and provides guidance for the changes in America's social welfare programs necessary in today's unique social and economic environment.