Which act allows for the lawful deduction of wages for social insurance?

The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) is specifically designed to authorize the lawful deduction of wages for social insurance programs, primarily Social Security and Medicare. Under FICA, employers and employees are required to contribute a certain percentage of employee earnings to fund these social insurance programs. This deduction is taken directly from an employee's wages and is essential for providing benefits related to retirement, disability, and healthcare.

The other options, while important in the context of labor laws and employee rights, do not directly pertain to the deduction of wages for social insurance. The Social Security Act provides the framework for the Social Security program but does not govern the wage deduction process itself. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is focused on protecting employees' retirement benefits but does not address wage deductions for social insurance. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets minimum wage and overtime standards but does not involve wage deductions for social insurance. Thus, FICA is the correct choice for the lawful deduction of wages allocated to social insurance programs.