Question

What is one New Deal policy that still exists today? How does this policy impact you or your family in the present day?

Answer 1

One still-existing New Deal policy is the Social Security Act (1935). It created Social Security — a federal program that pays retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits funded by payroll taxes (FICA).

How it can impact you or your family today:
- Many older adults rely on monthly Social Security checks as a major part of their income. If your parents or grandparents receive benefits, those payments help pay for housing, food, medications, and other living costs.
- If anyone in your family has a disability, they might qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which provides income support.
- Even if no one in your household is collecting benefits right now, you and your future self are paying Social Security taxes from each paycheck — which affects your current take-home pay but builds eligibility for your future benefits.

Short example you can use or adapt for a school answer:
“Social Security, created by the New Deal in 1935, still exists and provides retirement and disability benefits. My grandmother receives Social Security each month, which helps cover her rent and medical bills. I also pay Social Security taxes from my paychecks now, so the program affects both my family’s current income and my own future retirement security.”

(If you’d prefer a different example, other New Deal institutions that still exist include the FDIC — which insures bank deposits — and the SEC — which regulates the stock market.)