The Potters Herald

8,904 Receiving Security Pay In Youngstown Area

"Monthly payments are being made to 8,904 persons in the Youngstown area at the rate of $2,452,456.00 per year under the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance provisions of the Social Security Act", William W. Wood, Manager of the Youngstown office of the Social Security Administration, announced today.

"These figures," Wood explained, "are based on the payments made as of June 30, 1949 in Mahoning and Columbiana Counties."

In Mahoning County, 2,692 retired workers aged 65 or older received $79,236 each month. Of these workers, 965 had wives aged 65 or older who received $15,013 each month; 713 widows over 65 received $15,808, while monthly payments to survivors of younger deceased workers numbering 1,902 totalled $31,702.

In Columbiana County, 1,179 retired workers are receiving $31,160 per month; 386 had wives over 65, who are receiving $5,524. Monthly benefits on behalf of deceased workers were paid to 1,067 survivors, at a total monthly rate of $17,595.

Wood estimated that several hundred thousand dollars are lost each year by Youngstown area residents who do not take advantage of their right to payment.

A claim must be presented before any payment can be made. It is not necessary that a worker over 65 permanently retire to receive payments. If an insured worker is at least 65 years old he may receive payment for any month during which he does not work and earn $15.00 or more under the Social Security Act, provided a claim is promptly made.

Wood estimates that several thousand local residents, over 65, may receive an old-age insurance payment for October if they present a formal claim for this money before the end of January 1950.

The Youngstown Field Office is located at 123 W. Commerce Street, Room 501 of the Schween-Ward Building and is open each week except Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The phone number is 4-4253.

Itinerant service is provided for persons not residing in Youngstown. Mr. John D. DePietro, Field Representative, may be contacted in the basement of the Post Office at East Liverpool, Ohio, each Wednesday and Friday from noon to 3:00 p.m.; and at East Palestine, Ohio, in the Red Cross Building from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month.

Mr. Eugene O. Wiles, Field Representative, visits Salem, Ohio, each Tuesday and may be reached on the second floor of the Post Office Building from noon to 3:00 p.m. He also may be contacted at the Post Office in Sebring, Ohio, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon the second Thursday of each month.