*NOTE: Senior Moments is written today by Dr Sharon Shaw Elrod, MSW, EdD, Senior Editor of Senior Citizen Journal. Please read the SCJ DISCLAIMER.
On Saturday, August 14, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of President Roosevelt’s signing the Social Security Act. Seventy-five years ago, the legislation was a social insurance program aimed at providing financial assistance to the elderly, disabled and people in poverty. The OASDI Act, date of enactment, signing are emblazoned in the minds of social workers the country over. It’s a program we have primary responsibility for administering. It is dear to us, not because it pays our salaries, but because it has provided assistance for millions of citizens to live with better food and housing, have most medical needs addressed, and not have to worry if there will be a place to live and food on the table tomorrow. The Social Security program is simply morally right.