Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1960-09-24
Social Security

For the 1ourtn time In six years
Congress has passed amendments
% the social security law which
!iberalize the protection afforded
disabled workers and their depend
ents.
Under the-196O amendments. ap-
proximately 100000 people - dis
abled workers under 80 years Of
sge and certain Of their depel,ti-
ents-are now eligible for social
security benefits. Until now only
those disabled workers between 80
and Sc and their dependents were
eligible for monthly social secur-
ity payments.
Younger disabled workers are
more likely to have families de
pendent on them than older work.
ers age SO and over. Before the
change in the social security law.
many Of them were dependent upon
public assistance payments which
are financed out of general tax
FUNDS. 1t is estimated that $28
million will be saved in public as
sistance payments during the
next year now that many of
these young disabled workers and
their families are eligible for dis
ability insurance benefits based on
their past earnings and social Sc
curity tax contributions under So
cial security. It is expected that
savings will be even greater in the
years to come when fewer people
who become disabled before age so
will need help through public as
sistance.
If you are under so and have
already had your social security
record frozen, you will receive a
letter explaining the new benefits
and what you need to- do about
getting them for yourself and
your dependents.
Do not get in touch with your
social security office at this time.
1t will only delay the district of-
flee in taking action to get cheer s
to you and others who are eligible
for payments under the new law.
However, severely disabled work
, ers under so who have worked
under social security, but have
never applied to have their So
cial security records frozen, should
get in touch with their nearest So
cial security district office now
to inquire about their rights to
payments.
To qualify for disability insur-
ance benefits, disabled worker
must be so severely disabled that
he is unable to engage in any
substantial gainful activity"
In addition, he must have work
ed under social security for at
least years out of ten years be-
fore he became disabled.
Benefits for disabled persons un-
der 80 and their families can start
with the month of October 1860.
When the disabled worker ap-
plies for disability benefits at his
social security district office, GER
tain information about his age,
education, training and vocational
skills will be obtained. He will
also be given a medical report
form to take to his doctor or to
the hospital or institution where
he had care and treatment. These
sources provide medical data about
the workers injury or illness with
particular reference as to how this
affects his ability to work. When
the completed medical report is
returned to the district office, the
workers entire record is sent to
the State vocational agency, which
in most States, has been designat-
ed to make the decision as to
whether or not the claimant is
disabled within the definition Of
the social security law. The dis
trict office will be glad to answer
disabled workers questions about
his rights and responsibilities.