Old-Age and Survivors Insurance: Insured Workers and Their Representation in Claims

A L M O S T 3 4 mi l l ion persons are estimated to have been insured 1 under Federal old-age and survivors insurance at the beginning of 1 9 4 4 . Tha t is, there were about 3 4 mi l l ion persons whose deaths could result i n the award of benefits under the program. A l most a mi l l ion were ful ly insured workers who had attained age 6 5 and therefore could have been entit led to pr imary benefits—the old-age benefits payable to ret ired workers; some 3 8 0 , 0 0 0 of them actually were ent i t l ed to pr imary benefits. I n addit ion, more than a mi l l ion , just a few years under age 6 5 at the beginning of 1 9 4 4 , were not only ful ly insured, but permanently fu l ly insured. I n other words, not only would survivor benefits be available at their death, whenever i t migh t occur, but they would also be certain to qualify for pr imary benefits at age 6 5 , even w i t h out receiving additional wages. The number of insured workers has increased rapidly since the beginning of 1 9 4 0 , when monthly benefits first became payable. Tha t growth is i n dicated by the following estimates ( in mill ions of workers) :