Benefit Expansions |
Year
|
Type
of Benefit |
Modification
of Benefit |
Note: Years shown refer to year that change was enacted
into law--effective dates may differ. |
1935 |
Individual retirement benefits at age 65
Lump-sum refund provision for retirement before 1942
Lump-sum death benefit |
|
1939 |
Wives age 65 or older
Children under age 18, if student from 16-17
Widows age 65 and older
Widowed mother at any age if caring for eligible child
Surviving Children under age 18
Dependent parents age 65 or older, if no surviving widow or child
under age 18 |
|
1946 |
|
Student requirement at ages 16-17 eliminated for child's
benefits
Dependent parents benefits if no surviving eligible widow or child |
1950 |
Wives of any age if caring for eligible child
Dependent husbands age 65 or older
Divorced and dependent widows with eligible child
Widower aged 65 and over if dependent |
Ad hoc "COLAs" first paid (general
benefit increase) |
1956 |
Disability benefits to workers age 50-64, offset by
Worker's Comp. payments
Early retirement for women at age 62
Wife's benefits at age 62
Disabled Adult Children if disabled before age 18
Female dependent parent ages 62-64 |
Age for widow's benefits reduced to 62 |
1958 |
Benefits for dependents of disabled workers |
For dependent parents benefits, no other survivor
requirement eliminated
Worker's Comp. offset against disability benefits eliminated |
1960 |
Disability benefits at any age under 65 |
|
1961 |
Early retirement for men at age 62
Male dependent parent ages 62-64 |
Age for widower's benefits reduced to 62 |
1965 |
Medicare for age 65 or older
Divorced wife age 62 or older if married at least 20 years and dependent
on husband
Children age 18-21 if full-time student
Surviving divorced wife if married at least 20 years and dependent
on husband
Special age 72 transitional benefits under certain conditions |
Age for widow's benefits reduced to 60 |
1968 |
Disabled widows aged 50-59 (at reduced rate), including
divorced wife if dependent and married 20 years
Disabled widower aged 50-61 if dependent |
|
1969 |
|
Cap on wives/husbands/divorced wives/divorced husbands
benefits eliminated |
1972 |
|
Automatic annual COLAs
Delayed Retirement Credits added
Dependency requirement eliminated for divorced wives
Dependency requirement eliminated for divorced widowed mother
Dependency requirement eliminated for surviving divorced wife
Student benefits extended to grandchildren under certain circumstances.
Disabled Adult Child if disabled before age 22
Student benefits extended to end of semester student attains age
22
Disability requirement dropped for widowers ages 60-61 |
1977 |
|
Dependency requirement eliminated for husbands
Duration of marriage for divorced wives lowered to 10 years
Marriage requirement reduced to 10 years for surviving divorced
wife
Minimum benefit amount for retirement benefits |
1982 |
|
Government Pension Offset does not apply to some wives/husbands |
1983 |
Husbands under age 65 caring for eligible child*
Widowed father caring for eligible child under age 18*
Widowed divorced husband, married 10 years*
Divorced husband age 62 or older if married at least 20 years*
Widowed father if caring for eligible child under 18 |
Divorced husband married at least 20 years
Reduction for Government Pension Offset reduced somewhat for wives/husbands/divorced
wives/divorced husbands
Reduction in widows benefits eliminated for period prior to age
60
Dependency requirement dropped for widowers* |
* Benefits under these categories were paid earlier
under court decisions, but were added to the Social Security Act
in this year. |
Benefit
Reductions |
Year
|
Type
of Benefit |
Modification
of Benefit |
1939 |
Lump-sum refund provision eliminated |
|
1965 |
|
Students excluded from qualifying
wife as caring for eligible child
Students excluded from qualifying widowed mother as caring for eligible
child
Modified Worker's Comp. offset for disability benefits reinstated |
1968 |
|
Maximum cap put on wives/husbands/divorced
wives/divorced husbands benefits |
1977 |
|
Scaled-back benefit formula
(the "Notch" was a by-product)
The Government Pension Offset reduced Social Security benefits for
spouses/divorced spouses/ widows/widowers who receive a pension
from non-covered employment |
1981 |
Student benefits phased-out,
except for high school students under age 19 |
Eligible child for widows/widowers
benefits excludes nondisabled child aged 16-17
Eligible child for divorced widows/widowers benefits excludes nondisabled
child aged 16-17
Eligible child for wives/husbands benefits excludes nondisabled
child aged 16-17
Lump-sum death benefit payable only to surviving spouse, or children
eligible for benefits
Minimum benefit eliminated
First month of eligibility for retirement benefits reduced by one
month for virtually all beneficiaries |
1983 |
|
Six-month delay in COLA
Normal Retirement Age gradually to rise from 65 to 67
The Windfall Offset Provision reduces the retirement or disability
benefits paid to individuals who also receive a pension from non-covered
employment |
1996 |
|
Disability benefits eliminated
for many drug addicts/alcoholics |