The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1959-07-03
SOCIAL SECURITY
By EARL w. TRINKLE
Field Representative
By EARL w. TRINKLE
Field Representative
Norfolk Office

There is increasing concern
among young fathers and hus-
bands as to how they can best pro-
vide for their dependents in case
of loss of income to the family
through death or disability. In any
consideration of the family's finan-
cial security particular attention
should be given to the benefits pay
able by the Social Security Act
Under our present system of social
security the families of practically
all wage earners and self-employed
individuals have at least partial
protection from the three more
common causes of loss of income
death, disability or retirement.
Today the employed or self-em-
ployed person who wishes to insure
his family's security supplements
his social security with savings
insurance or investments. In order
to do this adequately he should
first know and understand what
protection social security guaran-
tees. This knowledge can then be
used as a base from which he car
determine what other type of fl
nancial protection is needed tc
meet his family's requirements.
While social security payments
cannot fully replace the family in
come lost through death or disa-
bility, in some cases it can result
in payments of as much as 500
of the breadwinner's former salary
The higher his earnings, the higher
are the benefits payable. Monthly
benefits range from a minimum Of
$500 to a maximum of $254.0O
for a family.
1t is generally know that old-age
benefits can be received by men
at age 65, and women at age e.
but benefits are also payable to
survivors in case of the bread
winners death at any age, and to
a worker and his dependents if he
is disabled and so years of age OF
older. Dependents include: a wife
at least 62 years of age, children
under IS, children over 10 who
became disabled before age 10, a
wife regardless of age with child
in her care who is entitled to bene-
fits, and dependent husbands 65
years of age. Survivors include all
those listed as dependents and also
parents who were receiving 500
of their support from the wage
Garner and, in some cases, a di-
vorced wife.
While it is important to know
who can receive. benefits, it is even
more important to estimate how
much will be paid. Monthly pay
ments vary, as previously mention
ed, but any worker can obtain the
information from his social securi-
ty office. 1t is only necessary to
telephone, write or visit an office
and if the worker has a record of
his earnings he can be informed as
to what benefits and approximate
amounts will be paid in his case.
If the worker has not kept a
complete record of his earnings he
can obtain a post card from the
local office, complete and mail the
card to Baltimore, Maryland, and
a record of his earnings will sent
to him.
With this information the bread
winner can then determine how
much his family's needs would ex-
coed the monthly payments from
social security and take whatever
action he believes will best guaran-
tee this his family is adequately
covered against loss or reduction
of income in case of his death,
disability or retirement.