SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AUGUST 1935 SOCIAL SECURITY ACT U.S GOV'T LEGISLATIVE NEW DEAL HEALTH/SAFETY UNEMPLOYMENT U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION ECONOMY AND LABOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT PASSED IN AUGUST 1935 WAS PART OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT'S SECOND NEW DEAL THE ACT WAS A RESPONSE TO THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE GROWING POVERTY AMONG THE ELDERLY THE EFFECTS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION PARTICULARLY ON THE ELDERLY CAUSED DR FRANCIS TOWNSEND TO ORGANIZE A MOVEMENT TO PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT INTO OFFERING MORE ASSISTANCE IN 1934 ROOSEVELT RESPONDED BY ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE PROBLEMS THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT WHICH CONGRESS PASSED THE NEXT YEAR THE ACT ESTABLISHED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE A PENSION FUND FOR CITIZENS OVER THE AGE OF 65 AND WELFARE BENEFITS FOR BLIND AND DISABLED PEOPLE AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES OF WORKERS WHO HAD DIED FUNDING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY CAME PRIMARILY FROM TAXES ON EMPLOYER PAYROLLS AND EMPLOYEE WAGES A JOINT FEDERAL STATE PLAN RAISED THE FUNDS FOR WELFARE BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES AND DISABLED PERSONS THE ACT HOWEVER MARKED A CHANGE IN AMERICAN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN SOCIETY AND PERMANENTLY FIXED THE GOVERNMENT AS THE PROTECTOR OF THOSE MOST VULNERABLE IN SOCIETY
