Social Security in the U.S. Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Economic Security Act

Abraham Epstein, the president of the American Association for Social Security, is credited with coining the phrase 'social security.' While the Economic Security Act was being debated in Congress, the name of it was changed by members of the House of Representatives.

Answer: Post Offices

A program of this magnitude had never before been attempted by any government. In order to handle the millions of completed applications, it was decided that the more than 45,000 post offices were the most visible government offices available to most Americans, and a 'typing center' was established in most of them.

The post office typing centers were originally responsible for assigning social security numbers.

Answer: The assignment of Social Security card 000-00-0001 is yet to be made; there hasn't be anyone living in Sagacity Falls, VT since 1867 when the dairy farm exploded

The German question is still being debated by extremists on both sides who claim that both Social Security and the Pledge of Allegiance were created by some quasi-German secret society. Ms. Owen did receive the unique number, but only after two other people declined it.

In 1972, a new law required children to receive a Social Security number shortly after their birth. Since many families are mobile these days, the first three numbers refer to the geographic location of the person's birth, not--as was the case prior to 1972--the state where they first applied themselves for a number.

Answer: True

Because of this independence from Federal budget woes, the Social Security fund has always maintained high surpluses ranging from between $89 million and $153 billion. However (you knew this was coming, didn't you?), the President may 'borrow' from these surpluses, but the law demands that the loans must be paid back, with interest.

Answer: Sorry...in 1940 the average life expectancy of an American male was 61.6 years.

The life expectancy of American males has continued to increase and as of 2003, us old geezers could look forward to reaching our 74th birthday.

Answer: His Social Security number was declared to be the first 'official' number.

In November 1936, the commissioner of the Social Security Administration's Division of Accounting Operations reached into a bowl and withdrew card number 055-09-0001 -- Mr. Sweeny's number. The commissioner declared it to be the first 'official' Social Security record. Mr. Sweeny died at age 61, too early to collect any benefits.

Answer: 17 cents

In January 1937, Mr. Ackerman, who contributed to the Social Security program for one day and paid five cents in Social Security taxes, was presented with a check for 17 cents as a one-time only lump-sum payment covering the time between the establishment of Social Security and his retirement. It is not known what Mr. Ackerman did with his 17 cents.

Answer: $24.75

In the early days of Social Security, employees who had begun paying into the new program shortly before their retirement, made out like bandits. Miss Fuller received $22,888.92 in benefit checks (by the time she died at age 100), a pretty good investment of her $24.75 contributions.

Answer: Listing the favorite baby names for boys and girls

Based on Social Security applications, the top five boys names of 2006 (Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Ethan, Matthew) represented quite a change from names listed in 1956 (Michael, James, Robert, David, and John.) In 2006, the top 5 girls names were Emily, Emma, Madison, Isabella, and Ava; their 1956 counterparts were Mary, Debra, Linda, Deborah, and Susan). Among the names somehow overlooked in the 2006 listing: Apple, Pilot Inspektor, Kal-el, Pax, Suri, Phinneaus, and Tallulah.

Answer: Established the first mandatory Old-Age Pension Law to insure its citizens would be taken care of financially after age 65

Although the noted California Socialist and muckraking author Upton Sinclair bitterly opposed the encroachment of government into the medical and financial lives of its elderly citizens, California decided not to wait for Congress to end its dithering over the program and established its own version of Social Security.