Social Security Amendments of 1956: A Summary and Legislative History

* C o m m i s s i o n e r of S o c i a l S e c u r i t y . O N August 1, 1956, P r e s i d e n t E i s e n h o w e r signed H . R . 7225, w h i c h t h u s became P u b l i c L a w No. 880 ( E i g h t y f o u r t h C o n g r e s s ) , the S o c i a l S e c u r i t y A m e n d ments of 1956. T h i s n e w l a w a m e n d s the old-age a n d s u r v i v o r s i n s u r a n c e provisions of the S o c i a l S e c u r i t y A c t , c e r t a i n p a r a l l e l provisions of t h e I n t e r n a l Revenue Code, t h e publ ic a s s istance a n d c h i l d wel fare tit les of t h e S o c i a l S e c u r i t y A c t , a n d the R a i l r o a d R e t i r e m e n t Act . A s Pres ident E i s e n h o w e r s tated w h e n he signed the bi l l , " T h e n e w l a w embraces a wide range of c h a n g e s i n old-age a n d survivors i n s u r a n c e , the public assistance programs , a n d c h i l d welfare serv ices . " T h e s e c h a n g e s h a v e m a j o r impl icat ions for t h e e c o n omic security of the A m e r i c a n people a n d for the field of publ ic welfare . T h e old-age a n d survivors i n s u r ance system w a s also affected b y P u b l i c L a w No. 881 ( E i g h t y f o u r t h C o n g r e s s ) — t h e S e r v i c e m e n ' s a n d V e t e r a n s ' S u r v i v o r Benefi ts A c t — w h i c h w a s signed by the P r e s i d e n t o n August 1, 1956. T h i s l a w substant ia l ly revamps the survivor benefit p r o g r a m s for the members of t h e u n i formed services. I n c l u d e d among i ts provisions is the extension of old-age a n d survivors i n s u r a n c e coverage to t h i s group (on a contributory basis and. w i t h c e r t a i n specia l f e a t u r e s ) .