Chronology

1970s

January 1970 James Nease resigned as the Director of the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.

March 10, 1970 President Nixon signed the bill making the Federal Credit Unions (formerly part of the Social Security Administration) an independent agency, the National Credit Union Administration.

April 1970 Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Finch announced the formation of a Family Assistance Planning Staff at the Department level. The SSA elements dealing with FAP (established in February) were incorporated into the Department staff.

1970 SSA District Offices in several States began to develop non-medical evidence while State agencies were developing the medical evidence in disability cases.

May 2, 1970 The first Black Lung benefits were paid.

May 25, 1970 Robert J. Myers, SSA's Chief Actuary since 1947, retired.

May 1970 With the District Offices putting beneficiary records on microfiche, the District Offices Claims Development Record was headed for retirement.

June 1970 In a Commissioner's Bulletin on June 23, Commissioner Ball announced new delegations of authority to the SSA Regional Commissioners. Regional office staff personnel were to be added, responsibility and authority were to be expanded in the areas of recruiting, training, career development, public information and community relations.

June 24, 1970 Elliot L. Richardson was sworn in as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.

1970 The Social Security Administration's Claims Control System (SSACCS) was implemented. This was an inventory control, EDP originated, system for monitoring claims receipt and movement information.

July 1970 The voluntary SMI premium that Medicare enrollees paid was increased from $4.00 to $5.30 a month.

August 10, 1970 The official opening of the new East Building (chiefly housing the staff of the Bureau of Health Insurance) took place. DHEW Secretary Richardson officiated at the ceremony.

September 1970 The Bureau of Retirement and Survivors Insurance's Division of Foreign Claims became the Division of International Operations.

December 1970 Charles Trowbridge, senior vice president of Bankers Life Company of Des Moines, Iowa, was named the Social Security Administration's Chief Actuary.

January 1, 1971 The 10% benefit increase became effective.

February 1971 The Social Security Administration continued to extend to more States the procedure of having simultaneous development of evidence in disability cases, the District Offices developing the non-medical evidence while the State agencies were developing the medical evidence.

March 1971 The Bureau of Health Insurance restructured its headquarters and regional elements.

April 1971 In a landmark decision, Richardson versus Perales, the Supreme Court upheld by a vote of 6-3, the Federal Government's and Social Security Administration's position on requirements of procedural due process. In this, the first SSA case heard by the Supreme Court, the majority held that a written report of a consultative physician, albeit hearsay in character, could constitute substantive evidence to support a decision adverse to an applicant for disability benefits.

May 1971 Robert Bynum, Regional Commissioner, Atlanta, became the Director of the Bureau of District Office Operations.

June 1971 A Program Policy Staff and an Adult Assistance Task Force were established to plan for a Federal adult assistance program for the aged, blind and disabled.

July 1971 The voluntary SMI premium that Medicare enrollees pay rose from $5.30 a month to $5.60 a month.

1971 H. Dale Cook, an attorney from Oklahoma City, became the Director of the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.

1971 The Bureau of Data Processing and Accounts became the Bureau of Data Processing.

1971 The Bureau of Retirement and Survivors Insurance underwent a reorganization.

October 1971 The Bureau of Disability Insurance began to install key-to-tape equipment in order to replace card punch equipment.

November 1971 The Supreme Court, in Richardson versus Belcher, by a vote of 4-3, upheld the constitutionality of the offset provisions of workmen's compensation as they affect disability beneficiaries.

November 28, 1971 The White House Conference on Aging was held in Washington. Ex-HEW Secretary Arthur S. Flemming was the chairman of the conference.

November 29, 1971 The Social Security Administration's complex went on the Centrex Telephone system.

January 1972 Sumner G. Whittier, former executive director of the Michigan Medical Service (Blue Shield), became the Director of the Adult Assistance Planning Office, thereby absorbing the functions the Program Policy and Task Force staffs.

February 1972 The Bureau of Data Processing announced it would be issuing new Social Security cards and mailing them directly from central office, thereby shifting issuance from the field to the central office.

April 1972 The Philadelphia and the Kansas City Payment Centers began experimenting with modules: small groups having full responsibility for the entire process of benefit payments.

May 19, 1972 The Black Lung Benefits Act of 1972, extending eligibility and revising disability standards, was enacted. Coverage now was extended to surface as well as underground coal miners.

June 1972 Jack S. Futterman, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Administration, retired.

June 1972 Ida C. Merriam Assistant Commissioner, Office of Research and Statistics retired.

July 1, 1972 President Nixon signs into law P.L. 92-336 which authorized a 20% cost-of-living allowance (COLA), effective 9/72, and established the procedures for issuing automatic COLAs each year, beginning in 1975. The monthly premium that Medicare enrollees paid for SMI (Part B) went from $5.60 to $5.80

August 1972 SSA Management and AFGE Local 1923 signed a new two-year agreement covering about 15,000 non-supervisory general schedule and wage grade employees at SSA headquarters.

October 16, 1972 Arthur J. Altmeyer, Social Security's first Commissioner, died.

October 30, 1972 President Nixon signed the Social Security Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-603). The law liberalized several of the cash benefit provisions, made substantial changes in Medicare, revised the contribution schedule, amended some coverage provisions, and established a new Federal security income program for the needy aged, blind and disabled (the SSI program).

November 28, 1972 The Data Operations Center in Salinas, California, was formally opened.

December 1972 The Metropolitan Answering Service (MAS) units, located in or near 13 major cities, were renamed Teleservice Centers.

January 1973 The Bureau of Disability Insurance moved into the newly-completed Dickinson Tower.

January 19, 1973 At a ceremony, the Administration Building at the SSA Woodlawn Complex was renamed the Arthur J. Altmeyer Building, in memory of the late Commissioner.

February 1973 The new Bureau of Supplemental Security Income for the aged, blind and disabled was established.

February 1973 SSA announced plans to build Metro West (600,000 square feet of office space) in downtown Baltimore and a Computer Center (800,000 square feet of office space) in Woodlawn. Completion of these buildings was expected in the fall of 1976.

February 8, 1973 Caspar W. Weinberger became the Secretary of HEW. He succeeded Elliot L. Richardson who left on January 29, 1973.

March 7, 1973 Commissioner Robert M. Ball retired from the Social Security Administration.

June 1973 The Albuquerque Data Operations Center was opened.

June 1973 Social Security Administration personnel began to occupy the newly-completed West Building at the Woodlawn complex.

July 1,1973 The monthly premium for Medicare enrollees paying for the Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI), known as Part B, due to go up to $6.30, was frozen at the existing rate of $5.80.

July 1,1973 The Payment Centers were renamed Program Centers. New York became the Northeastern Program Center; Philadelphia became the Mid-Atlantic Program Center; Birmingham became the Southeastern Program Center; Chicago became the Great Lakes Program Center; Kansas City became the Mid-America Program Center; and San Francisco became the Western Program Center.

July 1,1973 Responsibility for new Black Lung claims was shifted from SSA to the Department of Labor.

August 20, 1973 Secretary Weinberger dedicated the new West Building at the Woodlawn complex.

September 1973 The monthly premium for Medicare enrollees (SMI) went up from $5.80 to $6.30.

October 4, 1973 James B. Cardwell unanimously confirmed by Senate to become Commissioner of Social Security.

October 24, 1973 James B. Cardwell enters on duty as Commissioner of Social Security.

November 1973 The Social Security Administration and the Administration on Aging joined forces in a campaign, Project SSI-Alert, to reach eligible persons among the aged, blind and disabled categories.

December 1973 Francis D. DeGeorge was appointed the Assistant Commissioner for Administration.

March 1974 A steering committee was established in SSA to deal with advance planning for comprehensive health insurance legislation. Arthur E. Hess was appointed the chairman.

April 1974 The 1974 Advisory Council on Social Security was appointed by Secretary Weinberger. The Bureau of Data Processing began a 6-month experiment with "flextime."

June 1974 Bernard Popick, Bureau Director of the Bureau of Disability Insurance, retired.

July 1974 By now the area office concept had been put into full operation. This system placed the areas into closer alignment with existing geographical principles and boundaries.

September 2, 1974 The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was signed into law by President Ford. The act provides for federal regulation and insurance of private pension benefits and establishes tax-deductible "Individual Retirement Accounts" (IRA and "401(k)").

September 1974 The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare approved the SSA plan to implement the modular claims processing organization throughout all the Program Centers.

September 1974 Commissioner Cardwell and officials of AFGE, Local 1923, signed a new labor agreement.

November 21, 1974 The 1974 amendments to the Freedom of Information Act become law over President Ford's veto. These amendments make the information in government files more accessible to the public. These amendments have implications for SSA's disclosure policies.

January 1, 1975 President Ford signs into law the Privacy Act of 1974. This law contains safeguards preventing the disclosure of information in government files if such disclosure would violate the privacy of individual citizens.

January 4, 1975 President Ford signed the Social Service Amendments of 1974. The measure gave SSA the responsibility to locate deserting parents of their children. It also allowed the garnishment of Federal payment, including Social Security benefits. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was to set up a parent locator service.

January 1975 Robert Tractenberg became the Director of the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals, succeeding H. Dale Cook who resigned to become a Federal judge.

January 28, 1975 SSA's new organizational structure became effective. The major change was the designation of on-line managers for all SSA cash benefits program operations.

August 8, 1975 F. David Matthews was sworn in as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.

December 1975 Joseph Carmody, the Director of the Bureau of Data Processing, retired.

December 2, 1975 The Program Centers were renamed the Program Service Centers.

January 1976 The Bilateral International Social Security Agreement between the United States and West Germany was signed.

January 1976 Elmer Smith, former Regional Commissioner, SRS, New York, became SSA's Associate Commissioner for Program Policy and Planning.

January 1976 William Rivers, Assistant Bureau Director of the Bureau of Disability Insurance, became its Bureau Director.

February 1976 Phase one of the Claims Automated Processing System (CAPS) was extended to all District and Branch Offices. This system provided faster and more accurate payment of initial claims.

February 1976 An SSA Policy Council was activated. It included the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Associate Commissioners and the Directors of the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals and the Bureau of Health Insurance.

March 1976 Jarold Kieffer, staff director of the President's Biomedical Research Panel, became SSA's Deputy Commissioner.

July 1976 The monthly premium Medicare beneficiaries would pay for their supplementary medical insurance coverage which increased from $6.70 to $7.20, (the first increase since July 1, 1974).

September 1976 The United States Treasury Department and the United States Postal Service agreed to date and deliver benefit checks on a weekday, but not earlier than the first of the month when the 30th or the 31st fell on a Saturday or Sunday.

October 1976 The new building of the Great Lakes Payment Service Center was occupied by SSA personnel.

October 1976 The DHEW established an Office of Inspector General.

December 1976 The Supreme Court decided, 9-0, in favor of SSA in the case of DeCastro versus Weinberger. The SSA regulation upheld required that an applicant for a divorced wife's benefits be at least 62 years of age.

January 1977 The Medicare deductible went from $104 to $124.

January 1977 A new procedure introduced by SSA eliminated the use of the SS-5 (Application for Social Security Account Number) in the claims process.

January 25, 1977 Joseph A. Califano, Jr. became the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

February 25, 1977 Jarold Kieffer, Deputy Commissioner since March 1976, left SSA.

March 8, 1977 The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was reorganized. Social and Rehabilitation Service was abolished. Aid to Families with Dependent Children, an element under the Assistance Payments Administration, became part of the Social Security Administration. SSA also was given responsibility for the Repatriation Program, Cuban Refugee and Indo-Chinese Refugee programs, and the Office of Child Support Enforcement. The Bureau of Health Insurance (Medicare) was moved out of SSA and became part of a new Health Care Financing Administration.

March 9, 1977 HEW reorganization plan published in Federal Register.

March 1977 The Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, in Califano versus Goldfarber, that dependency requirements for widowers but not for widows was unconstitutional.

March 1977 The Supreme Court, in Califano versus Webster, held that the formula for computing retirement benefits for male workers prior to 1975 violated the equal protection provision of the Constitution.

March 1977 The National Master Beneficiary Record was established, merging the beneficiary files of the Bureau of Disability Insurance, DIO and the six Program Service Centers.

May 23-27, 1977 The White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals met in Washington.

June 1977 Don Wortman, Acting Administrator of HCFA, became SSA's Deputy Commissioner.

June 1977 The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare's reorganization became effective, with about 1,500 employees being transferred between the Health Care Financing Administration and the Social Security Administration.

July 1977 The Social Security Administration replaced the Assistance Payments Administration with the Office of Family Assistance (OFA).

August 1, 1977 The DHEW reorganized its regional offices. The title of Regional Directors was replaced by Principal Regional Official.

December 12, 1977 James B. Cardwell, commissioner of SSA resigned. Don Wortman became Acting Commissioner of SSA.

December 1977 Barry Van Lare became Associate Commissioner for Family Assistance.

December 20, 1977 The Social Security Amendments of 1977 were signed by President Carter. This legislation was designed to restore the financial soundness of the Social Security system into the 21st century, and making future benefits and costs much more predictable.

January 1978 Beginning with the 1978 tax year, annual reporting of wages by employers replaced quarterly reporting, although State and local entities would continue to report on a quarterly basis.

March 1978 A. Haeworth Robertson, SSA's Chief Actuary since April 1975, resigned.

September 1978 The West German-United States Totalization Agreement went into effect.

October 5, 1978 Stanford G. Ross was sworn in as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

November 1978 The Bureau of Retirement and Survivors Insurance's Division of International Operations began receiving claims under a totalization agreement between the Italian and the United States governments.

January 5,1979 SSA announced a major reorganization with two of the chief positions being filled: Robert Bynum as Acting Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Frank DeGeorge, as Acting Deputy Commissioner for Operations.

January 1979 Dwight Bartlett, formerly senior vice president and chief actuary of the Monumental Life Insurance Company of Baltimore, became SSA's Chief Actuary.

January 1979 Don Wortman, Deputy Commissioner, left SSA for a post with the CIA.

March 1979 Jan Prokop, formerly under the Department of Commerce, became Associate Commissioner for Systems.

July 1979 Frank DeGeorge, Deputy Commissioner (Operations), left SSA. Herbert Doggette replaced Mr. DeGeorge.

August 3, 1979 DHEW Secretary Joseph A. Califano, Jr. resigned. He was succeeded on that day by Patricia Roberts Harris.

December 1979 The Metro West Building was completed.

December 31, 1979 Commissioner Ross left SSA to return to private law practice.