Most of the problems of the United states are related .
One of the major issues facing the country .
The United States was one of the last major .
industrialized nations to establish a social security .
system. In 1911, Wisconsin passed the first state workers .
compensation law to be held constitutional. At that time, .
most Americans believed the government should not have to .
care for the aged, disabled or needy. But such attitudes .
changed during the Great Depression in the 1930's. .
In 1935, Congress passed the Social Security Act. This .
law became the basis of the U.S. social insurance system. .
It provided cash benefits to only retired workers in .
commerce or industry. In 1939, Congress amended the act to .
benefit and dependent children of retired workers and widows .
and children of deceased workers . In 1950, the .
act began to cover many farm and domestic workers, non .
professional self employed workers, and many state and .
municipal employees. Coverage became nearly universal in .
1956, when lawyers and other professional workers came under .
the system. .
Social security is a government program that helps workers and retired .
workers and their families achieve a degree of economic security. Social .
security also called social insurance (Robertson p. 33), provides cash .
payments to help replace income lost as a result of retirement, .
unemployment, disability, or death. The program also helps pay the cost .
of medical care for people age 65 or older and for some disabled .
workers. About one-sixth of the people in the United States receive .
social security benefits. .
People become eligible to receive benefits by working in a certain .
period in a job covered by social security. Employers and workers finance the program through payroll taxes. .
Participation in the social security system is required for about 95 .
percent of all U.S. workers. .
Social security differs from public assistance. Social security pays .
benefits to individuals, and their families, largely on the basis of .
