History of Social Security Payments

For more information about the history of Social Security, visit www.ssa.gov.

Aug. 14, 1935: President Roosevelt signs The Social Security Act - a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.¹

January 1937: First one-time, lump-sum Social Security payment is made to Ernest Ackerman of Cleveland in the amount of 17 cents. Ackerman retired one day after the Social Security program began.¹

1939: Social Security law change adds survivors benefits and benefits for the retiree's spouse and children.¹
Jan. 31, 1940: First monthly retirement check is issued to Ida May Fuller in the amount of $22.54.¹

1950: All Social Security beneficiaries receive a general "cost-of-living" increase for the first time. Ida May Fuller is seen here receiving her first increased benefit check on Oct. 3, 1950.¹

1956: Social Security adds disability benefits.¹
1976: Social Security offers direct deposit of payments to Social Security beneficiaries.¹

2005: The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks launch the Go Direct^® campaign to increase use of electronic payments for federal benefits and to reduce the use of paper checks for federal benefit payments.²

Feb. 12, 2008: Nation's first baby boomer, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, receives her first Social Security retirement benefit by direct deposit.¹

Spring 2008: The Treasury Department introduces the Direct Express^® Debit MasterCard^® card, a safe, convenient prepaid debit card alternative to paper checks for federal benefit payments.²

August 2009: The Treasury Department's Go Direct campaign tops 3 million direct deposit enrollments.

Dec. 21, 2010: The Treasury Department issues a final rule extending the safety and convenience of electronic payments to all Americans receiving federal benefit payments. All federal benefits will be paid electronically by March 1, 2013. Treasury's Go Direct campaign begins communicating the rule change and helping Americans make the transition to electronic federal benefit payments.²

April 26, 2011: As the Treasury Department prepares to retire the paper Social Security check option beginning May 1, 2011, Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios ceremonially writes a check to taxpayers for $1 billion, highlighting the savings that will result over 10 years from Treasury's move to electronic payment of all federal benefits.²
May 1, 2011: First of two deadlines outlined in Treasury rule: anyone applying for benefits on or after May 1 now receives their payments electronically.²
March 1, 2013: Second deadline outlined in Treasury rule: All check recipients must switch to electronic payment by this date. Current check recipients are encouraged to switch now, rather than wait, by visiting www.GoDirect.org or calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795.²

1 – Source: Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov)
2 – Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury (www.GoDirect.org)

Go Direct®