The Wrangell sentinel., 1945-01-05
Social Security
 Benefits Available

Year-end figures just released by the Social Security Board point up the significance of services avail-l able to local people through the AL. aska office of the board, Hugh J.t Wade. Territorial director. pointed out yesterday.
 The fact that 39,OO0O00 Amefi- cans enter the new year with in- sured status, which would enable those who are 65 or over to draw retirement benefits for themselves l and their families, and the familiesI of those who die to receive benefits under the old-age and survivors in-I surance program, indicates h [. more insurance benefits will be paid locally in 1945.
 While the number of persons with insured status in this area has not been determined, there has been a marked increase in this number throughout the country and our observations make us certain that Alaska is no exception.
 This means that with more peo- pie insured, there will be a heavier demand upon Us to assist in pre- pairing and handling claims for monthly or lump sum benefits, to give out information on the social security program and to advise the public of it's rights and responsl- bilities. We are prepared to render these services. and We urge the public to make full use of our facll- ities. There is no charge for any Of. the services we render, and We Keep all records in strict confluence MT. Wade stated.
 The monthly benefit rolls rose to| I,l2O,0OO men, women and ehli-. dren. with the award of monthly benefits to 324,0O0 new applicants during the year The beneuciarles are eligible to draw S20,500,0O0 in. benefits each month, though ap-. proximately 10000 of them have given up their benefits temporarily in order to work in jobs covered under the law.
 More than Go percent ot the monthly beneficiaries are women and children, counting some women who have retired and claimed Dene- fits in their own right, rather than on account of a retired or deceased husband.
 Wage credits towards future ben efits were earned during the year by 4S,OO0,00O workers for them selves and their families, and the total ot persons with some wages credited to their accounts IS now approximately 7O,000,OO0. New ae- counts were set up during l944 Tor 4.50O,0OO workers.
 Approximately 100000 workers past age 65 are fully insured and could claim benefits any day upon retirement, and of these many have wives who are also eligible for ben- efits.
 Summing up the situation on the. social security front, Mir Wade said there is one serious cause Of con cern to the Boards field officers: some people do not know thelr rights under the old-age and sur vfvors insurance program, and so may lose some benefits through failure to act at the right time. To correct this he issued the follow ing advice:
 whenever a person, who has worked at any time in job coY- cred by the law, reaches the age Of 65. he should either write or come in to see us and find out how to protect his benefit rights, even though he does not plan to retire. Whenever a worker dies, after working for some period in jobs covered by the law, some member of his family should communicate promptly with the nearest office oI the Social Security Board. This IS the only way to make sure that no benefits are lost"
 The board is concerned also be- cause some 2O,0O0,0OO Americans, including the self-employed, are ez- cluded from the protection of the system. He called attention to the Boards new recommendation that the system be expanded to enable excluded groups to build insurance protection for themselves and their families.