SOCIAL SECURITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1943, Page 2

SOCIAL SECURITY

PLANS IN UNITED STATES. BILL BEFORE CONGRESS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) NEW YORK, June 6. Outlining improvements in the American system of social security which the newly-introduced Wagner-Murray Bill would provide, Mr A. J. Altmeyer said that if the Bill were adopted demobilised men would get unemployment insurance instead of the dole during the conversion period of industry. They would be eligible for unemployment benefits of from 12 to 30 dollars a week, according to the number of dependants. The United States counterpart _ of Britain’s Beveridge Plan, the Bill aims at providing for public employment offices and increased old age and survivors’ insurance, as well as insurance covering permanent and temporary disability, death, unemployment, maternity care, and medical and hospital benefits, and for the protection of service men’s social security rights, with unemployment allowances when they are demobilised. All workers earning 3000 dollars a year and less will be assessed at 6 per cent, employers paying an eaual amount. Senator R. F. Wagner explained that the Bill would extend the present social security benefits to 15,000,000 people who were now excluded, such as farm labourers, domestics, independent farmers, and small business men. It would provide a minimum of 30 dollars a month for an insured aged couple and a maximum of 120 dollars.