1948 Advisory Council

The Advisory Council of 1948 recommended important improvements in the Social Security program. Their Report would eventually result in the 1950 Amendments to the Social Security Act, which in the words of Bob Ball, ". . . really saved the concept of contributory social insurance in America." The 1950 Amendments expanded coverage under Social Security--sending it on the way to the universal program we have today. It also dramatically increased the value of Social Security benefits, for both current and future beneficiaries. The changes were so important that the period starting in 1951 became known as the "new start" to Social Security. The 1950 Amendments, following the 1935 Act and the 1939 Amendments, stands as one of the most important milestones in the historical development of Social Security in America, and the Report of the 1948 Advisory Council started the legislative process in motion.

The work of the Advisory Council was produced in four separate reports, reproduced here. We are also reprinted two articles from the Social Security Bulletin of 1948 which briefly summarize the main features of the much longer formal Reports of the Council, as well as a Report published by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 1948 in which SSA gives its own views on the Council's recommendations.

Articles About the 1948 Advisory Council Report

Summary Article on the Report of the 1948 Advisory Council on Changes in Old-Age and Survivors Insurance

Summary Article on the Report of the 1948 Advisory Council on Permanent and Total Disability Insurance and Public Assistance

Views of the Social Security Administration on the Report of the 1948 Advisory Council

The 1948 Advisory Council Report

Table of Contents & Introductory Material

Part I Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, Introduction & Summary
Part I Old-Age and Survivors Insurance
Part I Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, Appendixes  (in Adode PDF format-- 2.5 meg., 21 pgs.)
Part II Permanent and Total Disability Insurance, with Appendixes  (in Adode PDF format-- 3.6 meg., 25 pgs.)
Part III Public Assistance  (in Adode PDF format-- 3.8 meg., 25 pgs.)
Part III Public Assistance, Appendixes  (in Adode PDF format-- 1.8 meg., 17 pgs.)
Part IV Unemployment Insurance  (in Adode PDF format-- 8.4 meg., 52 pgs.)
Part IV Unemployment Insurance, Appendixes  (in Adode PDF format-- 6.0 meg., 48 pgs.)