Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-31
SECURITY FOR YOU
Legal NuptioI
Knot Needed
For Benefits
BY RAY HENRY

1t took a night of prayer to
bring the pretty young widow to
the Atlanta Social Security Office.
From what she was told there,
she felt her prayers had been
answered.
Her problem was whether she
had been legally married to her
husband. He had died a few
days before, leaving her with
three small children.
She knew, she told the Social
Security Office manager, that if
she wasn't legally married she
couldn't collect Social Security
payments. If she couldn't col
lect the payments, she didn't
know what she and the children
would live on.
Here's why she was worried:
One Saturday she and her boy
friend decided to get married.
They drove to the Opelika 1Ala)
Courthouse, but found it closed.
They couldn't get license
! 1t was showing, so they went
to a hotel, registered as man and
wife and started their rooney
moon. After they got back nome
Monday morning, they an
nounced their marriage and set
up housekeeping.
They always intended to get
married, but the birth of three
children interrupted. Now moth
ing could be done.
Worries Prove Needless
1--WE been praying all night, ="
she told the Office manager, land
the answer to my prayer is clear
that / should come to you."
She was told her worries were
needless. In Georgia, common
law marriages are valid. She and
the children are now drawing
monthly Social Security pay
ments.
But the Social Security people
don't answer all questions about
legal marriage so easily. And
the number of lines he ques-
ton arises is growing. as more
wives and widows apply for
Social Security benefits and
must show proof of marriage.
Many are discovering their
marital knot was never legally
tied, and because of it, they're
not eligible for Social Security
payments. Others are discover
ing for the first time that a
legal marriage is required to
draw the payments.
No Simple Answer
Because the question Of a
legal marriage is complicated no
simple answer can be given.
About the only generality that
can be made is: If a marriage is
recognized in the State where
the Social Security application
is filed or where the wage-earner
dies, it will be recognized fer the
payment of benefits.
But State laws vary as to what
is recognized as a legal mar
riage. For example, today only
10 States recognize common-law
marriags. So If the young widow
in Atlanta had been living with
her husband in a State which
didn't recognize common law
marriages, she might not be
collecting Social Security bene-
fits.
These complications point UP
the simple fact if you're in doubt
as to whether your marriage is
legal in your State. you should
find out. If 1t isn't, you should
do something about it or Social
Security benefits may be denied
you or your family.
Your local Social Security
office will be glad to give you
help with the problem. Or, a
good lawyer can give you a steer
in the right direction.
you may write Ray Henry
in care Of this newspaper about
your Social Security or retire.
ment problem. Please enclose
a stamped, self-addressed en-
velope and IS cents in coin.)
tFrom AP Newsfeaturesl
The next article in this series will
oppeor Thursday