The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-02
Eligible? Millions Registered for Social Security Benefits - An swers to Ques-
 tions Sup
 piled Here

Eligibility is interpreted for Wa terburianS interested in social se- curity provisions in today's in- stallment of series of educa- tional articles issued through the office of Robert E. Austin, man. ager of the local field office.
 More than 35,000,000 workers in the United States now have so- cial security account numbers. Any one of them could see his own name on Uncle Sam's record sheets, he could visit the Balti- more building of the social security board. In a certain filing cabinet, he would find duplicate of his social security account card.
 There are rows and rows of filing cabinets which hold these cards, each one showing the name, address, employment, etc., of one worker. In addition, there are ledger sheets which also contain this information for every eligible worker, with plenty of space op- posite his name to keep account of his wage earnings. Every three months, employers will report the wage earnings of each eligible worker in his employ; and that information will be transferred to the ledger sheet, or wage record, that is kept by the social security board.
 Now, who are the eligible work CTS? They are the employees in factories, shops, mines, mills, stores, offices and other places of business or industry, covered by the law, who were less than 65 years old on January l, 1887.
 In order to qualify for monthly old-age benefits a worker must CD be employed in some line of busl- ness that is not excepted under the law; (2) he must work some time Gone day or more) in each of five different years after Jan- uary l, 1887, and before he reaches the age of 65; (3) he must earn wages of at least $2,000 Gin alb after January l, 1887, and before he reaches the age of 65.
 What do we mean by employ r1ent that is not excepted under the laW?"
 Generally speaking, we mean work in factories, shopSe, mines, mills, Stores, building trades, ho- tels, filling stations-in short any kind of business or industry, eX- cept farm labor, domestic service, government service and a few other excepted services. For in stance, Bill Jones, a middle-aged man, is employed in steel mill. He works in employment that is not excepted under the law. His brother, John Jones, is a farmer and, therefore, does not come un- der old-age insurance provisions.
 Amy Drew, young woman, IS employed in laundry. She works in employment that is cov- cred by the law.
 Amy's sister, Lilly, cooks for private family; so Lilly does not come under the old-age msur- ance provisions.
 Young Howard Brady is em- ployed as a linotype operator by newspaper. He works in en- ployment that is covered by the law.
 His cousin. James Brady, is em- ployed as linotype operator in government printing office. There for, James Brady does not par ticipate in the old-age Insurance provisions.
 Some day James Brady or John Jones, or Lilly Drew may change jobs and find themselves working in employment that does come under the law. At that time they may register for old-age insur- ance and start a social security account.
 NEXT WEEK: Read in this pa per about workers who are nearly 65.
 Questions concerning this sub- ject may be sent to Robert E. Austin, manager, social security board field office, 108 Bank street. Waterbury, Conn. Answers will appear in this paper.