In 1939, President Roosevelt signed legislation establishing benefits for survi8vers and dependents.

In 1956, legislation added early retirement benefits, allowing women to draw checks at age 62.

In 1961 men were allowed early retirement

In 1956 disability payments were added, initially only to workers aged 50-64.

In 1965 payments began for divorced women, in 1977 for men.

In 1972, President Nixon signed legislation authorizing a 20 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and making the COLA automatic each year. President Reagan signed legislation in 1983 providing for taxation of benefits, and for a gradual increase in age of full retirement benefits to age 67.

President Clinton signed legislation in 2000 eliminating the earnings test for people above the full benefit retirement age. The earnings test required beneficiaries to give up part of benefits when they earned more than a certain amount. It still applies to beneficiaries below the full benefit age.

In 2011 and 2012 a “payroll tax holiday” temporarily reduced the tax from 6.2 to 4.2 percent rate for workers and their employers.

In 2015, Congress passed the Bipartisan Act calling for 6.2 percent payroll tax. Payroll tax for SSA is 6.2% for employers and employees. Self-employed tax is 12.4%. Taxes are paid up to $176,100. The funds would go to DI and OASI. Prior to January 1, 2016, 0.9 percent was allocated to DI (Disability Insurance) Trust Fund. The remaining 5.3 percent was allocated to OSAI (Old age & Survivors Insurance Trust Fund). As a result of the law, 1.185 was allocated to the DI trust fund and 5.015 was allocated to OASI trust fund for the period January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018. After 2018 payroll contributions reverted to allocation as they were in 2000 through 2010.