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The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on August 14, 1935.  In addition to several provisions for general welfare, the new Act created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.
 
The Social Security Amendments of 1954 initiated a disability insurance program that provided the public with additional coverage against economic insecurity.  On August 1, 1956, the Social Security Act was amended to provide benefits to disabled workers aged 50-65 and disabled adult children.  Over the next 2 years, Congress broadened the scope of the program, permitting disabled workers under age 50 and their dependents to qualify for benefits.  Eventually disabled workers at any age could qualify.
 
The decade of the 1960s brought additional changes to the Social Security Act.  The most significant change involved the passage of Medicare.  Under Medicare, health coverage was extended to Social Security beneficiaries aged 65 or older, and eventually to those receiving disability benefits as well.
 
In the Social Security Amendments of 1972, Congress federalized the adult categories by creating the Supplemental Security Income program and assigned responsibility for it to the Social Security Administration.
 
There have been many Amendments since the 1970s.  President Bill Clinton signed the Ticket to Work Incentives Improvement Act on December 17, 1999.  This law provides disability beneficiaries with a voucher they may use to purchase vocational rehabilitation services, employment services and other support services from an employment network of their choice.  The new provisions also provide a number of safeguards to the beneficiaries to protect their benefits and health.
 
Another recent Amendment is the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of 2000.  Signed by President Bill Clinton on April 7, 2000, this law eliminates the Retirement Earnings Test for beneficiaries at or above Normal Retirement Age.  This allowed approximately 900,000 people who were collecting benefits and also working, to not have their benefits reduced because of work.
 
If you would like more information regarding the Social Security Administration, you can contact them at 1-800-772-1213 or visit them online at www.ssa.gov.
 
You can also contact The Arc at 734-729-9100.
 
Phone code: 1333

888-929-9444

Code 1333

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