<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (September 2016) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (September 2016) </Td> </Tr> <P> H.R. 6635 Approved, August 10, 1939 Public Law 76 - 379 </P> <P> Amendments of 1939: The original Act provided only retirement benefits, and only to the worker . The 1939 Amendments made a fundamental change in the Social Security program . The Amendments added two new categories of benefits: payments to the spouse and minor children of a retired worker (called dependents benefits) and survivors benefits paid to the family in the event of the premature death of the worker . The 1939 Amendments also increased benefit amounts and accelerated the start of monthly benefit payments from 1942 to 1940 . </P>

Medicaid and medicare were originally established under the social security act in 1935