The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-06-12
SOCIAL SECURITY
By EARL w. TRINKLE
Field Representative


Yts. it's up to you! You are
one of the many millions covered
by the social security system. You
probably know something about
your rights and benefits under that
system but did you know you have
obligations too
For example, have you checked
your social security record in re-
cent years? Do you know whether
all your earning have been cor
rectly credited to your social Sc
curity account? If your answer is
mo" to these questions you
should take action now. Social Sc
curity records should be checked
at least once every three years
and the sooner you go about it
the easier it is to correct any err
rcrs in your earnings record.
This applies to you whether you
are working in your own business
or for someone else as an en-
ployee. Remember that your re-
tirement, disability and survivors
benefits depend on the social Sc
curity office you want to check
your record. They have a special
postcard with which you can re-
quest statement of your earn
ings.
Another obligation you have, if
you run your own business, is to
keep comlete and accurate records.
If you do, you will help yourself
greatly when you apply for social
security benefits. If you work as
an employee it's a good idea to
keep in safe place your copy of
the W. form that all employers
are required to give you every
year. 1t can be useful when you
apply for benefits.
Also you should make it a point
to telephone or visit your social
security office two or three months
before you retire, to learn what
proofs you will need when you do
apply. This little foresight will
cut down the time it will take
to get your first check after you
retire. The people who work for
the Social Security Administra-
ton have come to know full we'll
that the majority of delays in get
ting that first benefit check to
you are caused by the lack of
understanding on your part, a
lack of knowledge of what your
duties are under social security.
The new disability provisions in
the social secuity law also bring
new obligations to you. If you are
permanently disabled the social Sc
curity office cannot seek you out.
You should ask a member of your
family, or YOU personally should
phone or visit your nearest office.
Check promptly and read the pam
phlets you can get free for the
asking at any social security Of
flee to find out how to apply for
social security disability protec-
ton.
Almost all applicants for social
security benefits are requird to
submit proofs of one kind or
another to establish their rights
to benefits. You can help by bring
ing to the office your social Sc
curity card (don't trust your men,
DRY of the number), your birth or
baptismal certificate or o t h er
proof of your age and evidence of
recent earnings. You can help too
by paying attention to the in
structions social security employees
give you. They're all trained work
ers and are just as anxious to get
that first check to you as you are
to receive it.
Finally, if you are entitled
now to benefit checks, you crn
help by notifying the Social Sc
curity Administration when you
change. your address. It's amazing
how many people cause delay
in the receipt of their checks by
failing to do this They evidently
feel that the government will find
them somehow. Use the postcard
you received when you filed for
payments, or write letter which
Identifies your claim number and
last and present address, or call
at your social security office to
report the change of address.
Your social security district Of
flee will be glad to help. you in
any way possible but remember
you can help yourself by remem-
bering your duties under social
security.
MISS ANNIE POWERS So
DIES AT RANSOMVILLE