Beneficiaries of U.S Social Programs Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Beneficiaries of U.S Social Programs - Term Paper Example The social security program was created in 1935 with the purpose of providing pension benefits to retired senior citizens and disabled workers. The program in 1965 was expanded in order to provide medical insurance benefits known as Medicare. The beneficiaries of the program are people over the age of 62 who worked during their lifetime a minimum of 40 trimesters. People who become physically or mentally disabled also qualify for social security benefits. The wife or husband of the beneficiary as well children under the age of 18 may qualify to receive benefits. People that receive a low amount of social security can apply for additional help such as supplemental social security income (SSI). SSI gives these people an extra check to pay for their living expenses. Senior citizens that receive social security income because of age have options to improve their standard of living. They can reenter the workforce part time and still receive their social security income. The social securit y system has many critics among the scholarly community. According to Bloice (2010) the US congress is conspiring to lower the benefits the future generation of senior citizens. A second program that is available in the United States to help feed people in need is welfare.