Evening star., 1942-03-03
Social Security Board
Calls for Broadening
Of Federal Program
Urges Medical Gore,
Disability Compensation
In Annual Report

Federal provision for medical
care, disability compensation and
general relief" today were rec
commended for incorporation in the
social security program. in the an
nual report of the Social Secur-
ity Board.
The board also advocated once
more than old age insurance COW
erage be extended to classes now
exempted. including domestic and
farm labor and the self-employed,
and said that the billion-d dollar
unemployment reserve that has been
built up over the country should be
used to increase payments and
lengthen the time for which ben
efits may be paid rather than serve
as a basis for reduced taxation
Coverage OF the unemployment
compensation also should be widened
to take in smaller concerns, the
board added.
Reports on Payments.
These welfare payments were re-
ported during the last fiscal year:
Public assistance to aged indi-
gent, dependent children and
blind, in which the Federal Gov
ernment participates with the States
on a matching basis. $3.50 400, 900.
an increase Of IA per cent over The
previous year.
Unemployment compensa 4 n,
SAB, ,400. 900.
Old age insurance. $57.400 900.
The board reported that aged
INDECENT pensions required $685.
100000, with the beneficiaries in
creasing 100000 to 100000; de-
pendent children. $l41, 900 900, to
917.OO children and $4,000 fami-
lies. an increase OF 115,000 children
and $1,000 families. and blind. $13,-
TOO 900, the $4,000 beneflcieries rep
resenting an increase of 1000. Fed
eral grants to the States for these
programs totaled 1929 900 900, an in
crease of $46,500,000.
Millions Drawn on JobIess Fund.
Nearly 1000 900 workers drew un-
employment compensation pay
ments despite the increase In en-
ployment, the average payment
amounting to $ll for eleven weeks,
the board said. Payments were down
43 per cent in June from the pre-
ceding June, the report showed
The average old-age insurance
and survivor benefit paid to men
was $23 monthly, and to women,
Sl8; to widow and child, s34.
In support OF its argument for
Federally- financed medical care, the
board says that experience has dem
onstrated that "a large proportion
of the young men who are in the
ages when health should be at its
best have been found physically un-
fit to enter the armed forces"
The board also believes that the
Federal Government should in
crease child-aid payments, and re-
peats an earlier recommendation for
larger grants to the low income
States to permit . higher level gen
orally Of public assistance benefits.
Would Protect Soldiers.
The general relief" payments
proposed would aid primarily those
localities which are dependent
upon local resources without supple
mentation by State funds"
Legislation to prevent workers en-
tering the armed forces from losing
their Federal insurance protection
Is advocated by the board. 1t favors
extension of the coverage of the old
age insurance system to take in
employment with the armed
forces" The insurance rights Of per-
sons who 60 from private employ
ments to civilian service in the Gov
eminent should be similarly safe
guarded, the report say: