EM 5: Why Do We Have a Social Security Law? (1946)
By Merle Colby
Director of Information, War Manpower Commission
(Published February 1946)
What’s Behind the Search for Social Security?
- The second big question—“security”
- “Let’s leave it to the individual!”
- “Let’s leave it to the employer!”
- “Let’s leave it to the government!”
- Everybody’s business
What Is Our Social Security Program Now?
- How social insurance works
- The Social Security Act
- Public assistance—what it does
- Public assistance—what it doesn’t do
- Old-age and survivors insurance—what it does
- Old-age and survivors insurance—what it doesn’t do
- Unemployment insurance—what it does
- Unemployment insurance—what it doesn’t do
Do Veterans Get Any of these Benefits?
- Protection for servicemen under social security
What Do Americans Think about Social Security?
Is Social Security a Federal Monopoly?
- Workmen’s compensation
- Rhode Island’s cash sickness insurance
- How unemployment insurance works in the states
- The main differences between old-age and survivors insurance and unemployment insurance
- State laws and how they operate
- Disqualifications
- Experience rating
Should the Present System Be Changed?
- Broadening the coverage
- A federal system
- Increased benefits
- Disability compensation
- Health insurance
Where Does the Money Come From?
- Who pays for our present social insurance program?
- Cost of an expanded social insurance program
- What form of discussion?
- Hints to help leaders
- Discussion questions on social security
Primary source documents from 1944–46