Social Security
Security has always been a desired thing. All throughout history people have been striving for security so that when in a time of need they are taken care of. Social Security is what assures you that when you are old and retired that you will be taken care of. Social Security and health care go hand in hand. They are both there as a way to help you take3 care of yourself when you can’t do it with your income alone. Social security is “the comprehensive federal program of benefits providing workers and their dependents with retirement income, disability income, and other payments. The Social security tax is used to pay for the program.”
America’s first Social Security program was called the “Civil War Pensions.” “Following the Civil War, there were hundreds of thousands of widows and orphans, and hundreds of thousands of disabled veterans.” (www.socialsecurity.gov) This huge amount of people that couldn’t take care of themselves led to the Pensions. Money was given to these people so they could pay bills and take care of themselves after serving their country or having a family member that did so, "incurred as a direct consequence of . . .military duty." Over time the military pension evolved as the veterans grew older the qualification became more broad. In 1890 any disable civil war veteran qualified for benefits and in 1906 old age became a qualification. “By 1910, over 90% of the remaining Civil War veterans were receiving benefits under this program.” But this only made up an extremely small portion of the entire US. In 1934 after the Great Depression more than half of the elderly American population could support themselves so by 1935 30 states had old age pension. The need for these pensions is all to do with health problem and the lack of the ability to do work and get paid; disabilities, old age and being an orphan are all things that would prevent you from having a solid income in that time period and now as well.
Social security is the biggest event that led up to our current health care system because it fist showed that a lot of American’s can’t take care of themselves and need some sort of supplement money to cover medical bills. Health care is there to provide a way for people to have coverage on their medical expenses in the same way a pension would often be used.
"Social Security." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Dec. 2010.
The United States Social Security Administration. Web. 09 Dec. 2010.
"Social Security Definition." InvestorWords.com - Investing Glossary. Web. 09 Dec. 2010.
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