Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980: legislative history and summary of provisions

This article describes the legislative history of Public Law 96-265, the Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980, and contains a summary of the provisions of the new law. In passing these major disability insurance and supplemental security income provisions, the Congress hoped to improve the equity of the program, remove disincentives to rehabilitation and work, increase positive work incentives, and strengthen program administration. Other provisions were intended to strengthen and improve the administration of both the aid to families with dependent children and the child support enforcement programs.