Montana labor news., 1946-09-19
VETERANS BENEFITS UNDER Revised
SOCIAL SECURITY law EXPLAINED
BY Helena field OFFICE


Immediate beneficiaries of the re.
cent veterans amendment to the
Social Security act are the survivors
of World wal II veterans who died as
result of causes not connected with
their military service and before Aug
ust 10, 1916. the date on which the
amendment became law. Stewart j
Thomas. manager OF the Helena Of
flee of the Social Security administra'
ton, said today.
Nj. Thomas explained that the new
section of the act provides for the
payment of monthly benefits to quail
fled survivors Of veterans who die
within three years Of their discharge
under conditions other than dishon.
orable and whose dependents are not
qualified to receive compensation OF
pensions from the Veterans adminic-
tration. National Service Life Insur'
ance is not included in compensation
or pensions.
In the case Of such veterans who
died before the enactment of the new
amendment, the measure provides for
monthly benefits retroactive to the
date of the veterans death if the sur
vivors file their benefit claims with
the nearest office of the Social Secur-
ity administration before midnight
February 10. 1917. OF course. monthly
benefits other than retroactive are
payable on claims filed at any time
by qualified persons.
In cases where survivors of veterans
who qualify under the new amendment
already have filed claim for monthly
benefits earned by the veteran under
the old,age and survivors insurance
program OF the Social Security Ad
ministration. it is possible that the
provisions Of the new measure vii
provide greater benefits than these
earned by the veteran. Those survi
vors are included in the immediate
potential beneficiaries, and should ap
ply TO the field office Of the Social Sc
curity Administration.
Tho anne applies to survivors who
have filed claim for lump-sum bene
fits under the old-age and survivors
insurance program on a qualified vet
oran's account. The new amendment
may make them eligible for monthly
benefit payments. or it may increase
the amount Of the lump.sum benefit.
In the latter case. they will receive the
difference between the lump sum they
received and the larger amount they
are eligible for under the new amend
ment. II they apply at the office of the
Social Security Administration.
AS in the case of all other persons
qualified for social security benefits,
families Of deceased veterans to whom
This new section Of the law has i'm
mediate application should come to
our office 10 file their benefit claims
as soon as possible" Mr.. Thomas said
There is, Of course. no action to be
taken under the new amendment by
veterans or dependents Of living vet
Grams, since the amendment affects
only survivors Of veterans who have
met the qualifications of the new mea-
sure. including ineligibility for Vet
Grams ADMINISTRATION payments, and
who have died.
It is estimated by the Veterans Ad-
mlhistration that up to June 80, 1916,
approximately 10000 veterans of
World war II had died after discharge
from ~sryice This figure. however, IS
The one ior all deaths after discharge,
and u includes the deaths Of veterans
whose survivors were eligible for Vet
Grams Administration pensions. Survi-
vors of only a small percentage of the
iV,oU1 veterans would be eligible for
benefits under the amendment to the
Social Security act.
Future beneficiaries of the measure,
NIL be the survivors Of qualified vet
eraiis Who die within 3 years after
their discharge and who are discharg-
"a within years and a day after the
end Of the war as determined by a
Presidential proclamation or a resolu-
lion Of congress.
n all, it is expected that the sur
vlvors Of from 100000 to 100000 vet
Grams viii receive benefits under the
amendment
The purpose of the measure Is to
bridge The zap in ~survivorship protec-
lion that Is encountered by the ex-
servlceman in the 3-year period fol
loving his discharge from service.
Many persons the social security
Office manager said, lost the rights
'hey had accumulated under the old
age and survivors insurance program
through the passage of time after they
had entered the armed forces. The
potential benefit amounts or others
were reduced. Other persons, who
entered national service without hav-
ing had the opportunity to build social
llAlfl ff. 80. tv, t,rAnnC Af nrInT