SOCIAL SECURITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1941, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S PLANS EXTENSION OF BENEFITS. MORE HELP FOR POORER STATES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 11.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON. March 14. President Roosevelt told a Press conference today that he intends recommending an extension of the social security programme, so that both the .number of persons covered and the benefits that can be received shall be increased. The President explained that the Administration desired a greater equalisation of benefits for elderly people. He believed, he said, that it was better to increase the coverage and raise standards gradually each year, rather than try 4 to attain Utopia at one time. Millions of old people not within the scope of social security should be included. Old age benefits ought to be increased, so as to avoid dependence on State grants. In the richer States, the President declared, old age benefits are three to five times greater than in the poorer States. A formula was being prepared, he added, which would base Federal grants more nearly on the per capita wealth of the inhabitants of any given State. This, he said, would not penalise the richer States and would not require them to make larger contributions. but the extra load would fall on the Federal Government. At the same lime, Mr Roosevelt asserted, no State would have the right or privilege to fall down on its own obligations, but would have to provide a fair share of the social security costs from its own taxes, based on the State’s relative wealth. The result would be increased old age benefits for the people of thepoorer States, who were getting too little, and at the same time supply help where, the needs were greatest.