Historical Significance

Roosevelt’s idea for social insurance was to create a system for employees to contribute to their future retirement through payroll taxes. Roosevelt’s goal was to provide long-term economic security for the elderly. In 1935,Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, creating a social insurance program to provide income to workers who were 65 and older. The Act also provided unemployment insurance,old-age assistance, and aid to dependent children. The newly formed Social Security Board contracted with the Postal Service to help register workers for Social Security benefits.Between 1936 and 1937, the federal government displayed posters to encourage people to register for Social Security.