Since the 1930's the United States has worked toward a goal of providing aid to its citizens in need. From the Great Depression to modern day, the federal, state, and local governments have instituted a variety of benefit programs which form today's diverse governmental safety net.



Some key dates:

  1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act which provided benefits to retired workers.

  In 1956 the scope of Social Security is broadened. Disability Insurance is added, serving those severely disabled workers aged 50 or older and disabled adult children of deceased or retired workers. Two years later the benefits were extended to the dependents of disabled workers.

  In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments which created the Medicare Program. This program provided for the medical needs of people aged 65 or older. The same legislation created Medicaid, which endowed federal grants to states for low income medical assistance programs.

  The recently signed Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 is an extension of President Lyndon B. Johnson's efforts to create a national insurance program for retirees, and the latest example of the ongoing growth of social programs in the US.

Developmental
Highlights of United
States Social Programs

	1935 Social Security
	1956 Social Security Disability Insurance
	1965 Medicare and Medicaid Programs
	1972 Supplemental Security Income Program
	1989 Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act (QMB)
	1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (SLMB)
	1996 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families