| |
Unpublished CES Studies |
 |
|
Volume IX. Committee Publications |
|
Social Security At Home And Abroad |
SOCIAL SECURITY AT HOME AND ABROAD
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1935
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING PROGRESSIVE BUT IN SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION WE ARE AT LEAST 25 YEARS BEHIND THE TIMES
The foreign worker is protected against misfortunes that cut off his earnings
But The American worker must shift for himself or seek a relief dole
The French Worker has workmen's compensation; insurance against sickness, old age, and death, and unemployment insurance in certain callings. His Government also provides assistance for the needy aged, a definite scale of unemployment relief for those who do not come under the insurance system, maternity assistance and aid to destitute children, and tuberculosis, lunacy, and other services.
The German Worker has had old age and invalidity insurance since 1889. He is also protected by many other measures, such as workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance and widows' and orphans' insurance; sickness insurance which was started in 1883 gives free medical attention and financial assistance and provides maternity assistance and other benefits.
The British Worker has workmen's compensation, health insurance, widows', orphans', and old-age contributory pensions, and unemployment insurance. His Government also provides, for the needy, free old-age and blind pensions, maternity and child welfare assistance, and similar services.
If the insured worker loses his job he gets a definite weekly sum sufficient for him and his family to five on for a number of weeks (usually 26 or longer). If he falls sick he gets free medical care and a financial allowance; when he grows old he gets as a right a pension which he has built up over his working years with the cooperation of his employer and the Government. His wife is entitled to maternity assistance and his widow and orphans to a pension.
Other workers get similar protection, but--
The American Worker has only workmen's compensation in 44 States, free old-age pensions for those in dire need in 28, a meager system of mothers' pensions in 45. He has no sickness insurance whatever, and unemployment compensation in only 1 State, Wisconsin.
As a general rule, if he loses his job he gets no compensation; if he falls sick he loses his wages and at the same time has to pay for his own medical attention. His wife gets no maternity assistance, and he cannot look forward to building up a pension for his old age. Even the State pensions for destitute old persons are hedged about with so many eligibility requirements that they are available to only a very few of those who need them.
No other large industrial country gives its workers so little social security as does the United States at the present time.
"If, as our Constitution tells us, our Federal Government was established among other things 'to promote the general welfare' it is our plain duty to provide for that security upon which welfare depends."
--FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
"The administration has led the way. The rest is in your hands."
--FRANCES PFRKINS, Secretary of Labor. |
The Committee on Economic Security
1734 New York Avenue
Washington, D. C. |
|
www.socialsecurity.gov