Evening star., 1939-12-31
BY the Associated Press.

The new year brings the first
monthly benefits under the Federal
Governments old-age insurance
plan, part Of the Social Security
program.
From 10000 to $4,000 claims are
expected for January, the first bene-
fit month. These claims are being
filed by retiring workers, wives,
widows, dependent children and
dependent parents. Payments for
January will be made February /.
The number Of recipients will in
crease each month as more become
eligible under the law. Before the
year ends, 1t is estimated, 9l2,000
men, women and children will be
eligible for some $144,000. 900 in old
age insurance and survivor benefits.
Payments Begin Next Month.
Here, taken from official records,
are answers to questions most often
asked about old-age benefits:
@. When do monthly benefits be-
gin?
A. January. 1910. is the first bene-
fit month.
@. Do checks 60 out January /?
A. No. Benefits are paid at end Of
month. First payments will be made
February /.
9. Who will get benefits?
A. Wage earners who have
reached age 65 and retire.
Q. Any other requirements?
A. Yes, wage earners must have
worked in employment covered by
the Social Security Act and must
have earned at least $50 in each Of
six quarter-years since 1896.
@. What is covered employment?
A. Virtually all types of wage
Garner work except farm labor,
domestic service. Federal Govern
ment, State, county and city en-
ployment. religious. charitable and
casual work Todd jobs).
Benefits for Family.
Q. Does retired workers family
get extra benefits?
A. Yes, workers wife II over IS
and each dependent child under l6
Cor under 18 if attending schooD
gets separate benefit equal to one
half of the workers annuity.
@. Do benefits come auto
matically?
A. No, application must be made.
@. Where does the person apply?
A. To the nearest field office Of
the Social Security Board. II he
doesn't know where that office is, he
can obtain the address from the
local post office.
@. What action will field Office
take?
A. 1t will give information con-
cerning benefits, provide application
forms and forward applications to
Washington Office of Social Security
Board for approval.
@. What is the next step?
A. Letter from board to applicant
will tell him that his name has been
placed on benefit rolls and will dis
close the amount Of his monthly
payments.
Checks will Be Mailed.
@. Must he call some place for his
money?
A. No. United States Treasury
will mail benefit check to his home
at the end of each benefit month.
@. How much will beneficiaries
get?
A. Monthly benefits are figured
according to formula which takes
into account average wages and the
number Of years OF work in employ
ment covered by the program.
@. What is this formula?
A. A basic amount equal to 40 per
cent of the first $50 of the average
monthly wage plus 10 per cent of
the next 5000 Of average monthly
wage: to this is added per cent
of the basic amount for each year
in which the individual earns at least
5000 in covered employment. GA
worker with an average monthly
wage Of $50 will get a monthly bene-
fit of $1,000: his wife II over 65
supplementary 5000 and each de-
pendent child $1,000. A worker with
an average monthly wage Of 5000
will get $36.05: his 65-year-old wife
s1803 and each dependent child
S1803 These figures apply to bene-
fit payments which start Feb
ruary ~
SO Is Minimum Benefit.
@. What will be the smallest
monthly benefit?
A. The law provides that no bene-
fit be less than $40 a month.
O. What will be the largest
monthly benefit?
A. The highest total Of monthly
benefits which may be paid is $S5.
@. What happens if wage Garner
dies?
A. Monthly benefits will be pay
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