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Social Security Act of 1935

5 amendmentstracked · Side-by-side comparison of previous and amended text

August 10, 1939

Added survivors' benefits and benefits for spouses and children of retired workers.

Previous

Monthly benefits shall be paid to qualified individuals who have attained the age of 65 and have paid sufficient contributions.

Amended

Monthly benefits shall be paid to qualified individuals aged 65 and older, their spouses, dependent children, and survivors of deceased insured workers.

August 1, 1956

Created the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program for disabled workers aged 50-64.

Previous

Benefits are available to retired workers who have attained the age of 65.

Amended

Benefits are available to retired workers aged 65 and older and to disabled workers aged 50-64 who are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable impairment.

July 30, 1965

Created Medicare (Title XVIII) and Medicaid (Title XIX), providing health insurance for the elderly and low-income Americans.

Previous

The Social Security system provides old-age retirement benefits, survivors' benefits, and disability insurance.

Amended

The Social Security system provides retirement, survivors', and disability benefits, hospital insurance for persons 65 and older (Medicare Part A), voluntary supplementary medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and grants to states for medical assistance to low-income individuals (Medicaid).

October 30, 1972

Established Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).

Previous

Benefit amounts are determined by Congress through periodic legislative adjustments.

Amended

Benefit amounts shall be automatically adjusted annually based on increases in the Consumer Price Index, and a new Supplemental Security Income program shall provide uniform minimum income for aged, blind, and disabled individuals.

April 20, 1983

Greenspan Commission reforms raised the retirement age, taxed benefits, and extended coverage to federal employees.

Previous

Full retirement benefits are available at age 65 for all covered workers. Social Security benefits are exempt from federal income taxation.

Amended

The full retirement age shall gradually increase from 65 to 67 for workers born after 1937. Up to 50% of Social Security benefits may be subject to federal income tax for higher-income beneficiaries, and new federal employees shall be covered by Social Security.