Final answer:
Social Security, established in 1935, is a U.S. government program designed to provide financial support to the elderly, the unemployed, and the disabled. Benefits are based on past wages and include retirement, dependent, and survivor benefits. The program expanded with Medicare in the 1960s to help cover healthcare costs for seniors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social Security is a comprehensive social insurance program established under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. The program, part of Roosevelt's New Deal, was designed to address problems facing the elderly, the unemployed, and those with disabilities during the Great Depression by providing a safety net and financial security. Its creation was a significant shift in federal policy, moving toward greater involvement in social welfare and assistance. Social Security benefits are based on the wages earned while working and include retirement benefits for individuals 65 and older, as well as benefits for dependents and survivors of deceased workers. The program has evolved since its inception, notably with the addition of Medicare in the 1960s to assist with healthcare costs for the elderly.