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Story
March 30, 1956
Toledo Union Journal
Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio
What is this article about?
Article by Wayne Putnam on challenges in proving entitlement to social security benefits, using examples like widows lacking marriage records or children without birth certificates. Advises obtaining proofs like marriage and birth records in advance to ensure rightful claims are processed smoothly.
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your SOCIAL SECURITY By WAYNE PUTNAM
We who handle claims for social security benefits sometimes find cases where real hardship results because people who believe they are entitled to old-age and survivors insurance benefits are not able to prove their entitlement.
In one case, it may be a widow having a great deal of trouble getting a marriage record or otherwise proving she was married to her deceased husband. In another case, it might be a claim for child's insurance benefits and no birth certificate or similar record can be found for the child. These are unusual situations but they do happen.
If you were to write the social security law and regulations. I believe you would require that certain conditions of entitlement be met before benefits would be paid. Many employed or self-employed people pay into the social security insurance fund and regulations must be observed to protect the fund from those who would not rightfully be entitled to benefits.
If it is a widow claiming benefits, it must be established that she is actually the widow. A marriage certificate is the logical proof to be expected. A birth certificate of a child will show his age and prove that he is a child of the person on whose social security record a claim for benefits is being filed. Since the law requires anyone claiming retirement benefits to have reached age 65, some evidence is needed to show that the person is actually that old.
While the social security office does have a responsibility of protecting the old-age and survivors insurance system against unjustified claims, the purpose is not to try to keep those rightfully entitled from getting their benefits.
Our advice to the families of those working persons whose tax contributions go towards making up the social security trust fund is this:
Obtain proofs that may be needed before they are needed.
Find out if your marriage is actually on record and see if the births of your children are recorded. Get some evidence of your age. Be armed with this information when the time comes to file a claim for benefit payments under the old-age and survivors insurance program.
In great matters men show themselves as they wish to be seen; in small matters, as they are.
--Gamaliel Bradford
We who handle claims for social security benefits sometimes find cases where real hardship results because people who believe they are entitled to old-age and survivors insurance benefits are not able to prove their entitlement.
In one case, it may be a widow having a great deal of trouble getting a marriage record or otherwise proving she was married to her deceased husband. In another case, it might be a claim for child's insurance benefits and no birth certificate or similar record can be found for the child. These are unusual situations but they do happen.
If you were to write the social security law and regulations. I believe you would require that certain conditions of entitlement be met before benefits would be paid. Many employed or self-employed people pay into the social security insurance fund and regulations must be observed to protect the fund from those who would not rightfully be entitled to benefits.
If it is a widow claiming benefits, it must be established that she is actually the widow. A marriage certificate is the logical proof to be expected. A birth certificate of a child will show his age and prove that he is a child of the person on whose social security record a claim for benefits is being filed. Since the law requires anyone claiming retirement benefits to have reached age 65, some evidence is needed to show that the person is actually that old.
While the social security office does have a responsibility of protecting the old-age and survivors insurance system against unjustified claims, the purpose is not to try to keep those rightfully entitled from getting their benefits.
Our advice to the families of those working persons whose tax contributions go towards making up the social security trust fund is this:
Obtain proofs that may be needed before they are needed.
Find out if your marriage is actually on record and see if the births of your children are recorded. Get some evidence of your age. Be armed with this information when the time comes to file a claim for benefit payments under the old-age and survivors insurance program.
In great matters men show themselves as they wish to be seen; in small matters, as they are.
--Gamaliel Bradford
What sub-type of article is it?
Advisory Article
Public Information
What keywords are associated?
Social Security
Benefits Claims
Marriage Certificate
Birth Certificate
Age Proof
Entitlement Verification
What entities or persons were involved?
Wayne Putnam
Story Details
Key Persons
Wayne Putnam
Story Details
Discusses hardships in proving social security claims due to missing records like marriage or birth certificates; advises obtaining such proofs in advance to protect the fund and ensure entitled benefits are received.