THIS MONTH IN SOCIAL SECURITY HISTORY


November 5, 1934 President Roosevelt announces the members of a 23-member Advisory Council to the Committee on Economic Security, with Frank P. Graham, President of the University of North Carolina, as Chairman.

November 14-15, 1934 The National Conference on Economic Security was held in the District of Columbia. Representatives of employers, labor and the public attended.

November 16, 1936 Approximately three million employer applications (Form SS-4) were distributed to employers around the country and by November 24, 1936, the larger portion of the employer forms were returned.

November 24, 1936 Applications for Social Security account numbers (Forms SS-5) were distributed by the Post Office Department to persons who were working or expected to work in jobs covered by old-age insurance.

November 5, 1942 In accord with the President's request, the Federal Security Administrator authorized the Social Security Board (1) to pay disability benefits to civilians who had been injured in the performance of certain civilian defense activities or who had sustained injuries as a result of enemy action occurring after December 6, 1941, (survivor benefits were to be paid to survivors of such defense workers and other civilians who died from such injuries), and (2) to expand the temporary civilian war assistance program.

November 25, 1952 President-elect Eisenhower names Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby of Houston, Texas, to succeed Oscar R. Ewing as the Federal Security Administrator.

November 1956 Social Security retirement Benefits became payable to women at age 62.

November 1960 Benefits became payable to the disabled at any age.

November 5, 1990 President Bush signed Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. (This omnibus bill contained numerous Social Security-related provisions. The most significant policy change extended Social Security coverage to State and local government employees not covered by a retirement plan. The law also established permanent authority to continue paying benefits during appeal of disability cessation decisions; introduced various work incentive and vocational rehabilitation provisions for disability recipients; and added several provisions relating to representative payees.

November 4, 1998 Vice President Gore announced a new federal policy designed to make it easier for victims of domestic violence to obtain new Social Security numbers.

November 16, 1998 SSA mailed the 50 millionth Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement (PEBES) since it began issuing them.

November 2, 2000 SSA Deputy Commissioner Bill Halter announced the availability of SSA's new online application process for Social Security retirement claims.

November 30, 2000 Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security, and Dallas L. Salisbury, Chairman of the American Savings Education Council (ASEC), announced an expansion of their partnership to educate Americans about the importance of planning for their financial futures.

November 9, 2001 Jo Anne B. Barnhart was formally sworn-in as Commissioner of Social Security at 12:10 p.m. at SSA's office in the I.T.C. building in Washington, D.C. SSA Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources, Paul Barnes, conducted the swearing-in.

November 14, 2001 Jo Anne B. Barnhart's ceremonial swearing-in at SSA Headquarters in Baltimore.

November 15, 2001 Commissioner Barnhart issued a proclamation designating this day as "Larry G. Massanari Day" in recognition of his career-long achievements and, especially, his service as Acting Commissioner for the preceding 7 months.

November 28, 2001 The Social Security Administration announced that individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing may apply for Social Security benefits immediately when they call the Social Security Administration’s national toll-free TTY/TDD number, 1-800-325-0778.

November 13, 2002 The Social Security Administration is launching the second phase of a new program designed to help people with disabilities go to work. The Ticket to Work program, which began in February of 2002 in 13 states, is now available in 20 additional states and Washington, DC.

November 5, 2003 SSA's Regional Commissioner in Philadelphia, Larry Massanari, announced his retirement at the end of the year, after a 38-year career with SSA.

November 9, 2007 Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, highlighted the agency’s efforts to improve service and reach out to wounded veterans.