The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1956-08-30

for disabled workers at age SO,
benefits for children 18 or over
who were disabled before they
reached Is, and monthly bene-
fits for women at age 81 instead
of IS were added to the nations
old-age and survivors insurance
program August 1st, when the
1856 social security amendments
were signed into law by Presi-
dent Eisenhower. Legislation
embodying the changes was COM
pleted by the 84th Congress in
the closing hours of the session
ON July 27.
One of the most significant
changes made by the amend
ments was the provision for pay
ment of disability benefits begin
ming at age so to workers who
are totally disabled for substan-
tial gainful work of any kind.
Under the new law they can get
monthly disability payments be-
ginning with July 1857. No ap-
plicationS can be accepted by
social security offices before
October l, 1856.
To qualify for disability insur-
ance payments worker must
meet requirements prescribed by
To- hn nf
work to his credit under social
security and on the amount to his
credit in the 10 year period and
the 3 year period before he was
disabled. The definition of dis
ability is the same as the one
which has been in the law as
one of the requirements for a
disability freeze since 1854. The
payments can be made only to
a worker who has a disability
which prevents him from en-
gaging in any substantial gain
full activity. The disability must
have lasted at least 6 months,
and must be expected to con-
tinue indefinitely.
To prevent duplication, the
amount of any disability payment
will be reduced if the benefici-
ary is receiving disability bene-
fits from another Federal agency
or under a State or Federal
Workmens compensation law.
Applicants for disability bene-
fits will be referred to State
Vocational Rehabilitation agen-
cies to be considered for services
which may help them return to
work. Disability insurance pay
mcnts will be withheld if the
applicant refuses without good
cause to accept rehabilitation
services offered by the State
agency.
To meet the costs of these
benefits an increase in the socia
security tax will go into effec
January |, 1857. The amount o
the increase is "a of one percen
each for employee and employer
and 3/8 of one percent for self
employed people, on the frs
$4, 200 Of earnings in a year.
The amendments make it pos
Slble for a new group of depen
dents - disabled children owe
l8' - to receive social securit,
payments based on the earning
of a retired or deceased paren,
The children" eligible for bene
fits under this provision may b
of any age at the present time
provided they are unmarried
that they became totally disable
before they were age Is, and tha
they have remained totally dis
abled ever since. The child mus
show actual support by the il
Sured parent, unless he had re
ceiVed or was eligible to receiv
, social security benefit on h
parents account before he We
l8.
Under the old law the mothe
of child under Is entitled
benefits could also qualify #
benefits if she has the child
, her care; mothers of disable
E children over Is also may no
get benefits. Payments to tt
, disabled children and their mott
p ers may start with the checl
for January 1857, due early
February; applicants have unit
January 1858 in which to maE
their claims without losing ben,
fits. No applications can be a
> cepted before October l, 1875
(To Be Continued)