In 2010, the Social Security Administration (SSA) celebrates the 75th anniversary of the passage of the Social Security Act. In those 75 years, SSA has been responsible for programs providing ...unemployment insurance, child welfare, and supervision of credit unions, among other duties. This article focuses on the administration of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program, although it also covers some of the other major programs SSA has been tasked with administering over the years-in particular, Medicare, Black Lung benefits, and Supplemental Security Income. The article depicts some of the challenges that have accompanied administering these programs and the steps that SSA has taken to meet those challenges. Whether implementing complex legislation in short timeframes or coping with natural disasters, SSA has found innovative ways to overcome problems and has evolved to meet society's changing needs.
This paper proposes a new policy initiative to assist family caregivers at a time when major demographic shifts in both the family and the workplace have taken place. Women especially are in the ...position of having to balance both work and family responsibilities without proper assistance. The initiative is based on an expansion of the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) model, to include care of family members of all ages by providing an adequate wage replacement. The shifting dependency ratio, resulting in a shrinking caregiver pool, is discussed as well as existing policies and their short-comings. For example, no current policies provide paid leave. The evolution of TDI, including resistance to it, is examined. Finally, Massachusetts' abortive attempt at a comprehensive plan for employment-leave insurance is discussed in detail and policy recommendations are outlined.
