The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-25
Director

ROBERT E. AUSTIN
 Director
 Was it merely to enable employees of this area to file applications for social security numbers?
 The Answer
 The answer to these questions is: Decidedly not. The office has been operating as an agency where by lump sum payments have been made to many persons within the requirements of the law; claims are received daily; the staff has been enlarged under the field office su- pervisor, Robert E. Austin"
 Unlike the unexpected rush at- tending the unemployment compen- sation program of social security legislation which saw many thou sands seeking benefits throughout the first of this year, the local field office of the Bureau of Fed. Old-Age Insurance functions have been based on the Hong pulp in manner of speaking by setting up a number of smaller offices so that greater and more efficient service could be rendered to the public. While thou- sands of persons became so- cial security conscious" when they filed applications for their numbers through the post office many months ago, there were thou sands of others who failed to join the first great rush and, of neces- sity, called upon the field office to obtain the data requisite to issuance of such a number.
 Not all of the business of the office has been on the serious side, however, and although Regulation l." prohibits social security agencies from identifying any with whom they have dealings, even to police or welfare departments, there are some instances locally which can be cited, if somewhat vaguely.
 There was the man, for example. who called in to see what it was all about He had received a check | for payment of 1-2 per cent of taxable wages paid to him since the first of last year, his share of social security for his period of life up to 65 years of age.
 What shall I do with this?" he demanded. T give it to you, heh?'
 Told that he might do as he pleased with the money, that it was his, the man departed in joyful haste.
 Matrimony
 There was the woman who waited to see the supervisor. None of the clerks in the office would serve her important business.
 "1'm going to be married" she told the official. T don't need this any nore."
 Wherewith, she turned In her social security number. Or, tried to turn it in, explaining that her hus- band would be her social security" of the future. The purpose of the Act had to be explained in detail before she would keep her card and number
 But about the "business" of the local bureau during the year. There were 538 claims paid in amounts varying from $O9 to $27O in lump sums, If the payment of the former claim could be termed such. Ap- proximately $25,0 ,000 was paid out and the claims averaged slightly under $50 each. Claims are paid promptly, some within six days.
 In some of the listings of inven- tories of estates within the past several months has appeared the notation, Social Security so many dollars and cents. Some estates ~ have had no other cash items, 1t is remarked.
 In Connecticut, which is part Of Region l, representing New England and with central headquarters at Boston, there have been paid 3,431 claims for a total of $116,583.69; while New England, as a whole, counts 14,882 claims, averaging $45.57, paid to date. John Pearson is the regional director of the New England sector and John R. Camp bell, Jr.. is the regional representa- tive of the Bureau of Old-Age in- surance.
 So far as the Waterbury office is concerned, the period of receiving applications for social security num- bers is not over and the summer sea- son which sees various persons in this area opening up businesses such as roadside stands, small hotels, summer groceries, and the like, means that the employees of these operators are subject to social security provisions and the opera tors have an obligation regarding deductions from wages. Students and teachers seeking employment for the summer must have social security account numbers; in fact, all students entering, or planning business careers, must have such account numbers.
 Busy Office
 The Waterbury office is busy place and, daily, there are numer- ous applicants for lump sum pay ments and account number informa- tion which becomes an increasingly Important aspect of our national life. So many phases of the social se- curity legislation remain obscure in portent to some citizens who, event. ually, will be the greatest beneficiar- ies of the program that the follow ing examples are printed to ex- plain by illustration some of the immediate functions of the act:
 Assuming that a wage earner en- gagged in covered employment under Title II of the Social Security Act received an average wage of $l00 per month from January l, 1887, to June IS, 1888, when he attains age 65, his taxable wage would be $l,750. He would, therefore, be en- titled to lump sum amounting to $6l.25. On the other hand, how ever. in case of his death just before attaining the age of 65, his estate