Social Security: Benefits and Special Programs

Social Security is a self-financing program that provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members and to the family members of deceased workers. Workers become eligible for Social Security benefits for themselves and their family members by working in Social Security-covered employment. Social Security is of ongoing interest both because of its role in supporting a large portion of the population and because of its long-term financial imbalance. The Social Security benefits that are paid to worker beneficiaries and to workers' dependents and survivors are based on workers' past earnings. Retired worker benefits can be affected by other adjustments, for example, the windfall elimination provision.