The sub., 1946-02-28
Social Security For Your Widow And Children

will do. When John Blackstone died last year, he left his wife and two children in the same situation thousands of other young families find themselves. John was barely 30. He was a power-brake operator at the Crown Aircraft Plant No. 8, and making about $45 week. With prices what they are, John couldn't save much on that salary, ant all there was for his wife and children when he died was a life insurance policy for a thousand Gc1lars, and hundred dollars or so in War Bonds.
 It looked as if Johns widow would have to get out and earn a living for herself and the children. But that would be hard, for baby Mary was only 3 months old and Johnny years. Who would take care of these youngsters while their mother was away at work?
 That is where John Blackstone's social security account came in for his family. Johns local had a so- cial security committee that was always on its toes looking out for the union members. and 1t imme- diately notified the Social Security Board office of his death, and told Mary, Johns widow, how import ant it was to file her claim for sur- vivor's insurance. Johns own benefit at that time would have been worth $36.75 a month, so Mary, as his widow, gets three fourths of that. or $27.56 month. Each child gets half of its fathers benefit, or $18.37 a month. This makes a total of $64.3O a month which is now going regularly to this mother and her two children.
 Mary Blackstone will get her $27.56 a month until the youngest child is IS years old. Each child will continue to get his $18.37 a month until he is Is years old, and untiI 18 if he is still in school. So the proceeds of Johns social se- curity account will at least take care of the children's education through the grades and high school.
 When the children are old enough for their mother to leave them, Mary plans to try for her old job. Before she and John were married she had also worked at the Crown Plant and was making a1- most dollar an hour as a class A welder. As she can earn more that way than the amount of her social security benefits from Johns ac- count, she can afford to give up her monthly check for $27.56. especially as the children's checks will keep on coming until they are out of school. When Mary is 65 years old, if she has not married again, and is no longer at work, she can claim her monthly benefit checks again. Or, if she has earned a larger benefit on her own social security account than what she would get as Johns widow. she will get that larger amount for the rest of her life.
 Now 1t is doubtful whether John Blackstone could ever have saved enough money to leave his family anything like so well protected as he was able to do through his so- cial security account. What they got for his six years of social se- curity taxes was almost $14,000 worth of insurance.
 Sometimes families lose needed social security benefit payments be- cause they do not know that they are entitled to them and do not file claims until many months after the breadwinner has died, if at all. Back payments can be made only for three months before the month l the claim is filed.
 Tell your family about your so- cial security account and where you keep your social security ac- count card. Also, be sure that your family understands that social se- curity benefits must be claimed, they do not just come. To file a claim, get in touch with the near est Social Security Board Field Off, flee.
 In the Next Issue. HOW IT WORKS FOR THE WORKING