Evening star., 1940-01-30

dramatic story and real one, too,
has been front-page news. 1t is a
story which shows what this new
family security means. It is the
story of the recent West Virginia
tragedy when 81 miners were en-
tombed at BARLEY by mine blast.
Enghty-one of the miners who were
killed have been regularly employed
and were eligible for payments
under the old-age and survivors in
surance system. This is the story
of what this protection meant for
them.
Fifty-three claims for benefits
have already arrived in Washington
from the families of these miners.
Others are on their way. OF the SO
claims, 49 have been adjudicated by
the Bureau of Old-Age and Survi-
vors' Insurance.
Benefits for these families are
based on the average monthly wage
of the deceased worker. Until the
youngest child reaches the age of
18 monthly checks will continue for
all these families The adjudicated
claims show the following results
Twelve claims have been approved
for widows who have only one child
The average benefit paid to these
families will be S3235 a month
Four claims have been approved
for widows with two children. The
average benefit in these cases will
be s4290 a month.
Six claims have been approved for
widows with three children. The
average benefit in these cases will
be $5227 month.
Twelve claims have been approved
for widows with four or more chill
dren. The benefits in these cases
range from S48 to SIS month.
Fifteen death claims have been
approved. These lump-sum death
claims average $146. In three cases
widows who are expectant mothers
may soon be eligible to file for
monthly benefits.
That is what family protection
means.
Protection Against Hazards.
All these workers and their FAM
lilies, the file clerk, the bookkeeper
and the truck driver, as we'll as
these unfortunate miners, in the
future have protection against haz-
ards which confront each of us in
our day-to-day life-the hazard Of
death before adequate provision is
made for our families and the
hazard of dependency when we can
no longer work in old age. But the
provision of this protection. as a
right, to more than 100000 in
sured workers is large task. How,
you may well ask, does the system
work?
If you have been working in en-
ployment covered by the act, you
have undoubtedly gotten a social
security card some time in the last
three years. If not, such a card can
be obtained from any Social Security
Board field Office.
In obtaining his card, the worker
fills out a simple form which shows
his name and his address. It shows
also his date of birth, for when he
makes claim his age must be estab-
lished 1t covers few other points
which are absolutely necessary to
identify him and to keep his account
straight.
On that card is a number which
will identify his account-an account
which will become one of the most
valuable things which he and his
family possess. That account indi-
Gates the earnings upon which the
worker has contributed through de-
ductions from his pay envelope, and
as well, determines the amount of
the monthly insurance payment he
will receive when he retires, or his
survivors will receive at his death.
The man who has an insurance
account gives to each employer only
his name and his account number.
Every three months his employer
sends the social security taxes to the
Bureau of Internal Revenue; with
his tax he sends report, giving that
name and number md the amount
of wages which the worker has
earned in that quarterly period. Just
as an insurance company credits
your premium payments, so these
reported wages are regularly credited
to your account. Some day they will
be the basis of a monthly check for
you or your family. These individual
earnings records form the basis of
a distinctly American system of old
age and family insurance. system
which offers to the bulk of working
men and women protection as a
matter of right, without regard to
the individuals need and in amounts
related to the workers earnings.
Insurance payments so determined
related to the individual workers
previous earnings and standard of
living, as well as to his contributions
(baSed upon earningS)-are conso-