Which U.S. president signed the 1935 Social Security Act during the Great Depression?

Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the 1935 Social Security Act during the Great Depression.

Roosevelt signed the act on August 14, 1935, creating a federal old-age benefits system and a framework for unemployment insurance and aid to several vulnerable groups. It was one of the central domestic measures of the New Deal.

The law responded to widespread economic insecurity exposed by the Depression. Before federal Social Security, many older Americans had little dependable income after leaving work, and assistance varied greatly by state and locality.

The original program differed from today’s system. Retirement benefits began later, and the act initially excluded many workers, including agricultural and domestic workers. Social Security is also distinct from unemployment insurance: both were included in the 1935 law, but they are financed and administered through different mechanisms.