THIS WON'T HURT A BIT

The Clinton Administration is about to"reinvent" Social Security-- make that tweak -- with a new scheme to stagger millions of retirement and disability checks now sent out at the beginning of each month. The plan doesn't do much for the system's bankrupt future, but officials of Vice President Gore's National Performance Review say it ease the monthly burden on the U.S. Postal Service by spreading it out, and will save the government up to $1 billion over five years. Recipients will also be required to receive their checks electronically by direct deposit.TIME Washington correspondent Suneel Ratansays the worst the country's roughly 30 million recipients will endure is a one-time delay as the date of delivery changes; after that, the checks should roll in every 30 days.