SSR 61-2. CONTRIBUTIONS OF FOOD, CLOTHING, LODGING, ETC., TO CLAIMANT BY WORKER

In October 1958, M filed an application for parent's insurance benefits

based on the earnings record of her son, A, who had died on September 15,

1958. M met all other requirements of section 202(h) of the Social

Security Act for entitlement to parent's insurance benefits but must

establish that she had been receiving at least one-half of her support

from A at the time of his death.

Regulations No. 4, § 404.332 states:

In determining whether the one-half support requirement is met, the

support situation during a reasonable period immediately preceding the

insured individual's death is considered. Generally, a year prior to death

is considered to be a reasonable period if the support situation did not

change within that period.

During the year before A died, M had lived with him and his wife in A's

home which had a rental value of $720 per year; the cost of utilities was

$175; the cost of food was $1,300; making a total of $2,195 for the three

members of the household. In addition, M had expenses of $18 for medicine,

$25 for clothing, $17.40 for burial insurance, and $60 for life insurance,

for a total of $120.40.

The cost of M's support is her proportionate share of the rental value of

the home, utilities, and food (1/3 of $2,195 or $731.66) in addition to

her own personal expenses ($120.40). Thus the cost of M's support for the

year prior to A's death was $825.06. During that year, M received old-age

assistance payments in the amount of $383, which represents her

contribution to the cost of her own support. The balance of her support

($469.06) was provided by A.

Since A provided more than one-half the cost of M's support and all other

requirements are met, M is entitled to the parent's insurance benefits for

which she applied.