This Month in Social Security

April 4, 1935 The Social Security Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives with a report. This bill (H.R. 7260) replaced the Economic Security Bill.

April 19, 1935 The Social Security Bill (H.R. 7260) was passed by the House of Representatives, 372 to 33 (25 not voting). Against were 13 Democrats, 18 Republicans and 2 Farm Labor.

April 1936 The Social Security Board moved into its own headquarters on 1712 G Street, Washington, D.C. (The Board had been in the Department of Labor building, but was later moved to this 1712 G Street which was the old Department of Labor building.) The Board offices were located on the 7th floor.

April 20, 1938 The Special Senate Committee to Investigate Unemployment and Relief recommended the transfer of the United States Employment Service from the Department of Labor to the Social Security Board.

April 18, 1942 The War Manpower Commission was established by Executive Order with the Federal Security Administrator as Chairman.

April 8, 1948 The 1947 Advisory Council on Social Security presented its first report, with recommendations on old-age and survivors insurance, to the Senate Finance Committee.

April 10, 1953 Arthur J. Altmeyer left the office as Commissioner for Social Security. His position was abolished under Reorganization Plan No. 1.

April 11, 1953 Reorganization Plan No. 1 abolished the Federal Security Agency and transferred all its powers and functions to a new Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

April 11, 1953 Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby was sworn in as the Secretary of the new Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

April 20, 1961 By a vote of 399 to 14, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6027, the Social Security Amendments of 1961.

April 1970 Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Finch announced the formation of a Family Assistance Planning Staff at the Department level. The SSA elements dealing with FAP (established in February) were incorporated into the Department staff.

April 1974 The 1974 Advisory Council on Social Security was appointed by Secretary Weinberger.

April 20, 1983 President Reagan signed into law the Social Security Amendments of 1983.

April 19, 1991 Lou Enoff became SSA's first Principal Deputy Commissioner.

April 19, 1995 The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was bombed, killing 168 individuals, including 16 SSA employees.

April 15, 1996 The Social Security Advisory Board held a public meeting in Washington, D.C.

April 7, 2000 Earlier today, in a signing ceremony for the elimination of the Social Security retirement earnings test, President Clinton unveiled a new electronic service by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help Americans better prepare for their financial future – an online retirement planner.

April 9, 2002 Former Social Security Commissioner Dorcas Hardy, who served as Social Security's Commissioner from 1986 to 1989, was appointed by House Speaker Dennis Hastert to the Social Security Advisory Board.

April 1, 2004 The Social Security Administration is awarding $6.6 million in funding to assist eligible chronic homeless individuals apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security disability benefits. These Homeless Outreach Projects and Evaluation (HOPE) awards are part of the Bush Administration’s commitment to end chronic homelessness in the next decade.

April 23, 2007 The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds.  The 2007 Trustees Report shows slight improvement in the projected financial status of the Social Security program from last year. In the 2007 Annual Report to Congress, the Trustees announced:The projected point at which tax revenues will fall below program costs comes in 2017 -- the same as the estimate in last year’s report; The projected point at which the Trust Funds will be exhausted comes in 2041 -- one year later than the projection in last year’s report.

April 7, 2010 SSA released its Open Government plan. The plan is part of the President's initiatives for open government. Three flagship initiatives are highlighted in the plan -- the Spanish-Language Retirement Estimator, Online Service Enhancement, and an Online Life-Expectancy Calculator.  These initiatives support the agency’s mission, goals, and objectives, as well as showcase the value of open government principles.

April 6, 2011 Entertainment icons George Takei and Patty Duke teamed up to tell Americans to Boldly Go to www.socialsecurity.gov to apply for retirement, disability, Medicare, and so much more. The two celebrities joined forces in a new campaign to help the Social Security Administration promote its online services as an easy and secure way for people to do business with the agency.