SSA Security Inc history

In the 1930’s, the government had to find a way to pay for the newly-instituted Social Security plan and the FICA, or Federal Insurance Contributions Act, provided a perfect way to do just that.

The Committee's legislative recommendations were presented to the President in January 1935, and introduced to Congess for consideration shortly thereafter.

Social Security taxes were first collected in January 1937, with workers and employers each paying one percent of the first $3,000 in wages and salary.

In 1939 President Roosevelt signed legislation establishing benefits for survivors and dependents.

On the last day of January in 1940, the very first retirement check was issued to a lady in Vermont for $22.54.

Because of the war-time scarcity of space in Washington and a marked increase in the benefit rolls, the central offices of the Bureau of Old Age and Survivors' Insurance were moved to Baltimore in 1942.

CHANGES IN REGIONAL OFFICES (1948) -

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE ESTABLISHED (1953)

ESTABLISHMENT OF DIVISION OF DISABILITY OPERATIONS (1954) -

Death information for persons who died before 1962 is generally only in the Death Index if the death was actually reported to SSA after 1962, even though the death occurred prior to that year.)

PROGRAM BUREAUS ESTABLISHED (1965) -

BUREAU OF SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) ESTABLISHED (1973)

The Commissioner of Social Security announced a reorganization of the Agency in January 1975.

Fine tuning by succeeding Commissioners who found the span of control too broad under the 1979 reorganization was implemented over the next four years.

So there are still some Federal employees, those first hired prior to January 1984, who are not participants in the Social Security system.