In the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt envisioned a program that would alleviate the insecurity of aging in an industrial society. The embodiment of that vision, Social Security, enabled older workers who could no longer perform strenuous physical labor to retire with financial protection. Although Social Security has become an indispensable part of U.S. society, changes in the job market and in the longevity of workers may necessitate tailoring the program to reflect evolving needs.