Social Security private accounts may not help heirs of blacks, low-wage workers.

By Tami Luhby, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Feb. 8--Social Security private accounts may not be the nest eggs they're cracked up to be.

Despite President George W. Bush's assertions in the State of the Union address last week that workers could leave their private investment accounts to their heirs, many won't be able to under the rules outlined in his proposal. Low-wage workers and African-Americans would be among the least likely to be able to pass their accounts to their children, experts said.

That's because when people hit retirement, the plan would require they take the money out of their private accounts …