important changes In the disability provisions -of the law

important changes In the disability provisions -of the law that affect the blind. Under the old law, no one could qualify for disability benefits unless he had social security credits for five years of work in the ten-year period' just before his disability be-' gan. Under the new law, if you become blind before reaching the age of 31, you maybeeligt ble for benefits if you have social security credits for half of the time after you were 21 and before you became blind. There is a minimum requirement of six quarters. So some people who become blind before they reach age 24 maybe able to qualify if they have credit for 1 1/2 years of work. Another important change in the law affects blind people 55 years of age or older. They may get disability benefits if they have the necessary work credits and are not engaged in substantial gainful work, and j are unable to perform work comparable to the work they did before they became blind. If you receive both social security payments and workmen’s compensation benefits, you may be affected by another change in the law. This change affects you only if you become eligible for disability benefits after January 1, 1966 and only while you are under age 62. Under the old law, the receipt of workmen’s compensation had no effect on social security disability payments. Under the new law, a person and his family may not receive a combined amount from social security and workmen’s