<Ul> <Li> 1935 The 37 - page Social Security Act signed August 14 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt . Retirement benefits only to worker , welfare benefits started </Li> <Li> 1937 First Social Security Cards issued by post offices , over 20 million issued in first year </Li> <Li> 1937 Ernest Ackerman receives first lump - sum payout ( of 17 cents ) in January . </Li> <Li> 1939 Two new categories of beneficiaries added : spouse and minor children of a retired worker </Li> <Li> 1940 First monthly benefit check issued to Ida May Fuller for $22.54 </Li> <Li> 1950 Benefits increased and cost of living adjustments ( COLAs ) made at irregular intervals -- 77 % COLA in 1950 </Li> <Li> 1954 Disability program added to Social Security </Li> <Li> 1960 Flemming v. Nestor . Landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave Congress the power to amend and revise the schedule of benefits . The Court also ruled that recipients have no contractual right to receive payments . </Li> <Li> 1961 Early retirement age lowered to age 62 at reduced benefits </Li> <Li> 1965 Medicare health care benefits added to Social security -- 20 million joined in three years </Li> <Li> 1966 Medicare tax of 0.7 % added to pay for increased Medicare expenses </Li> <Li> 1972 Supplemental Security Income ( SSI ) program federalized and assigned to Social Security Administration </Li> <Li> 1975 Automatic cost of living adjustments ( COLAs ) mandated </Li> <Li> 1977 COLA adjustments brought back to `` sustainable '' levels </Li> <Li> 1980 Amendments are made in disability program to help solve some problems of fraud </Li> <Li> 1983 Taxation of Social Security benefits introduced , new federal hires required to be under Social Security , retirement age increased for younger workers to 66 and 67 years </Li> <Li> 1984 Congress passed the Disability Benefits Reform Act modifying several aspects of the disability program </Li> <Li> 1996 , Drug addiction or alcoholism disability benefits could no longer be eligible for disability benefits . The Earnings limit doubled exemption amount for retired Social Security beneficiaries . Terminated SSI eligibility for most non-citizens </Li> <Li> 1997 The law requires the establishment of federal standards for state - issued birth certificates and requires SSA to develop a prototype counterfeit - resistant Social Security card -- still being worked on . </Li> <Li> 1997 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , ( TANF ) , replaces Aid to Families with Dependent Children ( AFDC ) program placed under SSA </Li> <Li> 1997 State Children 's Health Insurance Program for low income citizens -- ( SCHIP ) added to Social Security Administration </Li> <Li> 2003 Voluntary drug benefits with supplemental Medicare insurance payments from recipients added </Li> <Li> 2009 No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009 signed . </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> 1935 The 37 - page Social Security Act signed August 14 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt . Retirement benefits only to worker , welfare benefits started </Li> <Li> 1937 First Social Security Cards issued by post offices , over 20 million issued in first year </Li> <Li> 1937 Ernest Ackerman receives first lump - sum payout ( of 17 cents ) in January . </Li> <Li> 1939 Two new categories of beneficiaries added : spouse and minor children of a retired worker </Li> <Li> 1940 First monthly benefit check issued to Ida May Fuller for $22.54 </Li> <Li> 1950 Benefits increased and cost of living adjustments ( COLAs ) made at irregular intervals -- 77 % COLA in 1950 </Li> <Li> 1954 Disability program added to Social Security </Li> <Li> 1960 Flemming v. Nestor . Landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave Congress the power to amend and revise the schedule of benefits . The Court also ruled that recipients have no contractual right to receive payments . </Li> <Li> 1961 Early retirement age lowered to age 62 at reduced benefits </Li> <Li> 1965 Medicare health care benefits added to Social security -- 20 million joined in three years </Li> <Li> 1966 Medicare tax of 0.7 % added to pay for increased Medicare expenses </Li> <Li> 1972 Supplemental Security Income ( SSI ) program federalized and assigned to Social Security Administration </Li> <Li> 1975 Automatic cost of living adjustments ( COLAs ) mandated </Li> <Li> 1977 COLA adjustments brought back to `` sustainable '' levels </Li> <Li> 1980 Amendments are made in disability program to help solve some problems of fraud </Li> <Li> 1983 Taxation of Social Security benefits introduced , new federal hires required to be under Social Security , retirement age increased for younger workers to 66 and 67 years </Li> <Li> 1984 Congress passed the Disability Benefits Reform Act modifying several aspects of the disability program </Li> <Li> 1996 , Drug addiction or alcoholism disability benefits could no longer be eligible for disability benefits . The Earnings limit doubled exemption amount for retired Social Security beneficiaries . Terminated SSI eligibility for most non-citizens </Li> <Li> 1997 The law requires the establishment of federal standards for state - issued birth certificates and requires SSA to develop a prototype counterfeit - resistant Social Security card -- still being worked on . </Li> <Li> 1997 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families , ( TANF ) , replaces Aid to Families with Dependent Children ( AFDC ) program placed under SSA </Li> <Li> 1997 State Children 's Health Insurance Program for low income citizens -- ( SCHIP ) added to Social Security Administration </Li> <Li> 2003 Voluntary drug benefits with supplemental Medicare insurance payments from recipients added </Li> <Li> 2009 No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009 signed . </Li> </Ul>
when did social security began in the united states
when did social security began in the united states
1935
1935