Evening star., 1940-01-21
Social Security
Continued From First Page. J

being carried under more than one
name or number-an eventuality
that would be certain In its absence
The index is set up by coding sur
names phonetically and grouping to-
gether those having the same basic
sound. The names, along with other
data, including the date of birth,
then are printed on thin paper
covered strips of wood which are in
serted in metal panels, equipped to
display 10.
Scouts keep a check on these
panels to avoid duplication of &C
counts. For example, if a scout pre-
pared to put new strip for
Fisher" in panel, and a check
showed Fischer" there with the
same birth date-or even the same
month and day in a different year
the original records of both would
be taken out of the files immedi-
ately to determine if they were the
same or different persons. Nor do
the names have to be so similar, for
the phonetic coding permits the
bringing together of many different
forms and whenever an investigation
is necessary to straighten out some
case, 1t Is carried out without delay.
In this connection, social security
off1cials say that at the start there
were many mistakes in wage reports,
but that generally now the workers
have been fitted into their proper
niche, even where they may have
worked for number of EMPLOYERS.
Some Numbers Changed.
The collating procedure, the other
important safeguard, brings together
Tor matching the employe-earning
card, compiled from the wage report
made by the employer, with what is
known as the annual summary card
that contains the actuarial history
OF the individual and his cumulative
wage account. The data on this
form traces back to the original
master card" made for the employe
Both employer and employe cards
are punched out in code as the other
records. and consequently, as they
pass through the machine, it rejects
those which do not tally in the de-
tails which should be identical.
Incidentally, the board officials
say, while the great effort is to
avoid multiple istings, worker can
obtain . new account number If
there is good reason.
There was an instance where a
group Of workers from q strike-torn
industry got the idea that the en-
ployers were setting up a black
list" by tracing the men through
their social security numbers. After
going into the matter, the board
Issued new numbers.
Making Payments Simple.
With the wage records estab-
lished, the matter of making pay
ments Is simple. The amount of
benefits is based on average wages.
The prospective beneficiary files
claim for payment at his regional
ofhce, which sends one copy of the
claim to Baltimore and another to
Washington. In the former, the
wage record is compiled and sent
here; the local Office then makes
certtfication for payment to the
Treasury after determining whether
the wage-earner alone is to get pay
ments or whether there are to be
family grants, the. record being
searched for this.
The records are kept in strictest
confidence but there Is one excep-
ton made. Upon application from
the proper quarter the records may
be used to trace identity in case Of
death.
And does that secrecy burn up
some wives who are seeking way
ward husbands through the medium
Of their social security registration