Growth in Protection Against Income Loss From Short-Term Sickness: 1948–56

Each year since 1948, when the Social Security Adtninistration began its studies of income-loss protection from sickness, public and private measures to provide sick or disabled workers with a temporary substitute income have expanded. In 1948 benefit payments amounted to an estimated $0.8 billion and represented 16 p’ercent of the estimated income loss of $4.7 billion. By 1956, benefits had reached a level of $1.8 billion and were replacing about 25percent of the income loss of $7.2 billion. The methodology and sources used in making these estimates, as well as the detailed findings, are presented below.