Show I Social Security Seeks Missing Beneficiaries B By FRIEDA KA KAYE YE Thousands of young adults and children are losing out on valuable Social Security benefits benefits benefits bene bene- fits because they are unaware that a change in the law has made them eligible THESE eligible beneficiaries are disabled workers under 65 and the children of mothers mothers mothers moth moth- ers who died prior to February 1968 but who once worked possibly even before marriage on jobs covered by Social Security The number of missing beneficiaries beneficiaries beneficiaries bene bene- is unknown according according according accord accord- ing to Max assistant district manager of the mid mid- id- id to N New York Social Security 4 1 office SPEAKING of the children who are missing out on benefits benefits benefits bene bene- fits Mr said At Atthe Atthe Atthe the time tim this law was changed we estimated that there would be approximately children children children chil chil- dren in the United States who would become eligible for benefits I tt think there are still many thousands who have not filed because they are not aware of the change We are trying to reach them because valuable benefits are in in- Children These benefits are for children children children chil chil- dren under 18 or between the ages of 18 and 22 if they are time full-time students Providing Providing Pro Pro- viding their deceased mother was fully insured under Social Social Social So So- cial Security these children are entitled to benefits even though their father ather supports them and may have remar remar- ried FURTHERMORE these children are eligible even if their deceased mother had left leC the labor Jabor market after marriage and was not actively supporting them at the time of her death Before the law was changed said Mr if the mother had worked under Social Security but had left lell the labor market before she died and had not been supporting the children the father was the children under the old law these children were not entitled to monthly y benefits IN FEBRUARY 1968 however however however how how- ever the law was changed so that if the mother had been insured under Social I Security even though at atthe atthe the time she died she had hadnot hadnot hadnot not been working monthly benefits were payable on her account to any children under under under un un- der 18 or children between 18 and 22 who were full- full time students Mr pointed out that there is no problem in finding finding finding find find- ing children of eligible mothers who died after 1 F February br ary 1968 The problem concerns children of mothers who died before February 1968 Under the law in existence existence existence ex ex- ex- ex at that time they were not and there would therefore be bee no way of knowing about them Disabled Workers I MANY YOUNG disabled workers may also be losing out on benefits From time timeto I to time said Mr people come in who could have been collecting for quite some time and who had lost benefits because they didn't file on time To qualify the disabled I worker worker who who ma may be asi as i young as 21 or 22 must have been insured under Social I Security If they became disabled after they were 31 I years of age they would need at least five years of work in the year 10 period I before their disability qualified them IF THEY became disabled before age 31 it could be as little as a year and a half depending on the age they became became became be be- came disabled The disability must prevent I the applicant from doing an any Y I kind of work If ClIf If the disability disability disability dis dis- dis- dis ability is so severe that they cant can't do any work and it is I expected to last for at least a year they would be eligible for or Social Security benefits beginning with the seventh month they are disabled Mr said Qualified I dependents also receive monthly month month- ly benefits 1 DISABILITY benefits are for those under 65 but the disability has to be a severe one However Mr I noted that there are many I qualifying illnesses and disI disabilities disabilities dis dis- I abilities that are arc not the I kind that paralyze or leave you OU helpless These include a severe heart ailment that prevents the insured qualified person I from working or an accident that disables the insured applicant applicant applicant ap ap- ap- ap for a year or more Further Information i I 11 THOSE WITH questions I about their possible eligibility under either of these programs programs pro pro- programs i II grams are urged to contact i I their nearest Social Security office |