Social Security Disability Policy HistorySocial Security has been around since 1935, when the Social Security Act was created. Social Security Disability Insurance was not created as part of Social Security until 1956. The disability program encountered strong resistance from the beginning and still faces challenges today. Program challenges include determining whether an applicant has a disability and trying to keep program costs at a manageable level. Although these challenges still plague the program to this day, the need for disability benefits far outweighs these challenges.Problem IdentificationDr. Francis E. Townsend sent a letter in 1933 to the Long Beach Press-Telegram proposing that every American over the age of 60 receive $150 from the federal government after seeing three elderly women digging through trash cans for food. This letter to a newspaper quickly gained national attention and pushed Congress to do something to help the elderly and the unemployed. President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in August 1935; however, disability was omitted from the law and not established until two decades later, in 1956. (Kearney, 2005/2006) Disability insurance was omitted from the Social Security Act (HR 6000 ) due to the potential cost of the program and the fact that determining whether or not an applicant was disabled and unable to work would prove difficult. When the Social Security Act was passed, private insurance companies that offered disability insurance were struggling to turn a profit. The policies had liberal definitions of disability and were written by specialist life insurance companies, causing them to lack... middle of paper...... in "enabling legislation or other legal guidelines impose policy goals that are clear and consistent or at least provide substantive criteria for resolving conflicting goals. The Social Security disability legislation, with its amendments, had clear and consistent policy objectives and the Social Security Administration provided the criteria for solving the problem of obtaining financial assistance by disabled workers. The Social Security Disability Insurance program is an important and necessary program. It is constantly evaluated, modified and updated. The Social Security Administration takes special care to ensure that applicants are treated with fairness and dignity. No one wants to be told they have a disability that will prevent them from working, but if they are told, they receive disability program benefits to help them financially..