Evening star., 1946-10-06
Security Change Aids Family
OfGI Dying After Discharge
By Irving Lotimer


By Irving
More than 100000 families Of
certain deceased veterans will profit
as a result of recent amendments
to the Federal Social Security Act
Widows, orphans and dependent
parents Of service personnel OF
World War II who had at least 30
days OF service or received . medical
discharge may get added benefits
or benefits ordinarily reserved for
families Of workers who have con-
tributed to the social security sys-
TEN. Depending on the size Of the
family, this insurance in most cases
will be worth anywhere from 5000
to well over 100000
What the Veteran Loses.
In recognition OF the fact that
the ordinary worker might lose SUBJ
stantial insurance rights because OF
military service, the last Congress
passed legislation to safeguard some
Of these rights.
Under the Social Security Act,
benefits may be payable each month
to workers at retirement and to
their families in case of death.
These benefits are based on an
average wage" calculated from the
total wages earned by the worker
in commerce and industry and the
length of such employment. In
general, to be insured for his own
retirement benefits and for all fam
| lily benefits, he must work in em-
ployment for approximately half
the time elapsing after 1896, or
age 81. up to retirement age or
death.
Accordingly, withdrawal from
regular work or failure to get
work occasioned by entry into the
armed forces would have one of
these effects:
!. # the veteran had attained q
fairly high wage when he entered,
time spent in the Army or Navy
would decrease his average wage"
since the military time would have
to be counted in computing the
average even though the wages
could not be credited.
2. II the veteran were insured
when he entered. time spent in mill
tary service might deprive him of
this insurance and cut of benefits
entirely.
3. If the veteran were not in
sured when he entered, his military
duty would prevent him from be-
coming eligible for benefits for him
self or gaining credits which would
provide survivor payments.
Family Protection.
Although both the veteran and
his family might thus lose because
of the demands of war, the new law
assists only the surviving family.
Congress undertook to guarantee
that survivors of veterans who die
within three years after discharge
would get the same benefits they
would have enjoyed II the veteran
had been fully insured when he
died. 1t is assumed that within q
period of three years after release
from service, a veteran can re-es-
tablish himself in his work and
resume his place in the social Sc
curity scheme.
Primarily, the new measure Is in
tended to bridge the gap in insur-
ance protection only for families
of veterans who may die after dis
charge but before they might be
expected to gain or regain status
through civilian employment COW
cred by the Social Security Act. The
veteran who dies in service is not
benefited under the amendment
because his family Is taken care of
by pension or compensation payable
by the Veterans Administration,
which is generally higher. Likewise,
the veteran who is discharged four
years after the legal end Of the
present war, q date not yet settled,
is not helped, since benefits given
to regular and long-term military
personnel would probably be avail.
able. As emphasized by the con-
gressional committees, 'The objec-
tive Of this bill Is to provide pro-
lection for those who served during
the war and those who re-enlist
during the war period"
What the Veteran Gains. :.
The amendment, In its simplest
terms Q) gives full insurance un-
der the social security old-age and
survivors insurance system to elig-
ible veterans up to three years from
date of discharge, and ca estab-
fishes an average monthly wage OF
$160, plus additional credit for each
year after September 16, 1910, in
which they had at least 30 days of
active service. The benefits derived
from this provision are added to
any other social security benefits
which the veteran may have earned
before entering service or after dis
charge.
The survivors who may qualify
are:
l. Widows, aged 65 or over. A
veterans widow who has not mar
ried again will receive monthly
benefits at 65 for life or until she
remarries.
2. Widows Of any age with young
dependent children of the veteran
In her care. She will get benefits
until her youngest child reaches age
18 or she marries again. If still
unmarried, she may get benefits
again at age IS.
8. Young, dependent children of
the veteran. They get benefits un-
til they become 1S or marry.
4. Dependent parents, aged 65 or
over. If the veteran has left no
child or widow, his surviving par
ents will get benefits for life or un-
til remarriage.
5. Other persons. II there Is no
widow, child or parent, who can get
monthly benefits Immediately, a
For
~Buu@~ - ATT