Social Security is an insurance program enacted in 1935. Workers who are insured for benefits have insurance for retirement, disability and Medicare benefits. In addition, benefits can be paid to some family members and survivors on the insured workers record. These are the FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes withheld from a paycheck or paid by the self-employed.

In today’s political climate, many claims about Social Security are circulating in various media. Before making decisions about these issues, it is very important to separate fact from fiction. For example:

1. “Social Security is paid for the hundreds of thousands of people who never paid a dime into it.” This is fiction. According to Social Security law and regulations, in order to receive benefits on a Social Security number, the worker must be insured based on their work. Family benefits can be paid only on the record of an insured worker.