Evening star., 1942-12-20
Servicemen Inquire
About Their Rights
To Social SecuriN
Boord Tells Roosevelt =
Troops Won't to Know
Insurance Stutus
By JESSE n. IRWIN

insurance Stutus
BY JESSE o. IRWIN.
PRESIDENT Roosevelt has been in
formed by the Social Security Board
that members of the armed forces.
VINO as industrial workers before
their military induction paid taxes
Tor Federal life insurance protec-
ton, are now demanding to know
the status Of their acquired rights
under the social security system, it
became known yesterday.
The Social Security Board. unable
TO get necessary legislation through
the Seventy-seventh Congress, is
said to be informing servicemen
that as each day passed their rights
10 Federal insurance are diminish
ing. This also applies to thousands
OF workers who have accepted Jobs
In Government operated arsenals
and other Federal shops. Coverage
under the social security system
does not include Government work.
Depending on how recently and
how long he may have worked since
January l, 1887, in employment COW
cred by the system, the widow Of a
soldier or sailor may qualify for
total benefits as high as $85 month
until the youngest child is 18 years
old. Without child, q widow will
qualify only for lump sum benefit,
unless IS years old.
Altmeyer Sees Roosevelt.
Arthur j. Altmeyer, chairman of
the board, was a White House caller
Friday. It is understood that new
appeal to Congress for some type of
legislation was discussed with Mr..
Roosevelt.
Various plans have been suggested,
and the President last January asked
the Congress to give the matter
study. The suggestions include COM
plete elimination of rights to bene-
fits while worker is serving in the
armed forces and freezing" his ex-
tsting benefit status for resumption,
without penalty, on his return to
private life.
Another method would be to ex-
tend the coverage of the insurance
system to include employment with
the armed forces. The board holds
that this suggestion would seem to
be most satisfactory, provided that
"co-ordination could be affected wit1
programs set for persons in the regu-
lar armed forces and with the special
programs for veterans benefits"
Forty States have amended their
unemployment compensation laws
freezing the workers rights as of
the day he enters the armed service.
This will permit him to be eiieible
for unemployment compensation
when he is mustered out.
Coverage Held Urgent.
The coverdge of employees of the
Federal Government is particularly
urgent. the board is reported to
have informed the President, be-
cause large numbers of persons have
entered Navy yards, arsenals or
other Government services. Many
of these persons, it was said, have
left covered" jous in commerce and
industry and viii eventually return
to their former occupations. Un-
less their services with the Govern
ment are covered, they will impair
or lose their insured status under
the Federal insurance system.
The board also believes that the
Federal insurance system should be
extended to farm laborers, domestic
servants, and all other excluded
groups of workers, including public
employees, as well as those working
in charitable, religious, educational
and other non-profit institutions.
The administrative obstacles which
caused the House Ways and Means
Committee to reject coverage ex-
tension in 1899 do not now seem
tnsuperable, according to the board,
and that the use Of stamp system
to maintain the wage records of
such workers would be practical.
These stamps, to record contribu-
tions, could be sold by post offices
and rural mail carriers.
Just how far the President will 20
along with the recommendation is
now matter of conjecture. At
press conference last week, before
his conference with Mr.. Altmeyer,
the President gave a negative an
sWer to a question concerning social
security legislation.
Interested in Beveridge Report.
However, it is known that he has
taken an interest in the Beveridge
report on the British social secur-
ity system and has before him a re-
port submitted by tho National Re-
sources Planning Board that urges
extensive revision of this coun-
try's system.
The Social Security Board is re-
ported to have completed a study of
the Beveridge report for high
administration officials.
1t Is understood that it ranks as
No. item of the changes recon-
mended in the British system the
unifcation of social insurance con-
tributions by enabling each insured
person to obtain all benefits by a
single weekly contribution. The next
item Of importance is the unifica-
ton Of social insurance and assist
ance by establishing ministry of
social security with local offices
within reach Of all persons.