Evening star., 1950-09-04
Social Security
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SOSiOi SGSuiuy
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people and wage-earners in many
jobs not previously covered. They
are brought into the social secur-
ity system for the first time.
Most of us aren't drawing pen
sions yet-but the new law af-
fects us Importantly and we
should understand It's benefits and
how to make them "a part of our
family projections programs.
Actually, many people don't
know their full rights under social
security. Even under the old mar
rover law, almost a million pen
sions have at times gone unclaimed
through misunderstanding or neg
lect. That's the purpose of these
articles: To show you how to
make certain you get the benefits
to which you're entitled.
First, a suggestion for those ex-
lpecting larger checks in October:
If the increase doesn't show up
Immediately, wait until the end
of the year before informing the
locaL social security Office of the
deficiency. If the administrators
have to pull out your file too soon
to check a complaint, your in
crease will be further delayed.
You will collect retroactively any
increase due you that's been over
looked.
Start With 1851 Tax Year.
Self-employed people now come
under social security whether they
want to or not if they earn at
least $400 a year. They'll start
contributing to the fund with the
1851 tax year. When storekeep-
er, plumber. seamstress or other
self-ernPloyed person sends in his
1851 tax return (by March Is,
1882 aAe'll file an additional form
fer social security. He'll pay 2H
per cent of his earnings up to
S3,60O-a maximum of $81 year.
"A person employed by some one
else pays 112 per cent of his wages,
and the employer matches this
payment. In 1854, wage-earners'
and employers contributions rise
to per cent, and a self-employed
persons to 3.
The only self-employed people
still not eligible for social security
are farmers, physicians, dentists,
'chiropractors, osteopaths and op-
tometrists, veterinarians, funeral
directors, lawyers, professional en-
gineers. architects and most Ger
titled accountants in business for
themselves. Nor are ministers cov-
cred. a E-
Besides the self-employed, many
wage-earners not previously COW
cred have been brought under So
cial security. These include State
and local government employees
not in other retirement systems
whose States elect to place them
under social security; employees
of non-profit institutions who
elect coverage; Federal employees
not covered by the Federal retire.
ment system; farm workers and
food-processing workers off the
farm; domestic workers employed
at least "a days every calendar
quarter by the same employer:
outside statesmen and wholesalers
representatives, insurance agents
and commission drivers. and in
dustrial homeworkers who earn
at least $50 a quarter.
Get Lesser Benefits.
Workers whose unions have ne
gotiated private pension plans
benefit from the new law, too, but
in a lesser degree. Most such con-
tracts require the employer to pay
only the difference between the
social security pension and the
company pension, which is cur
rently $100-$125 a month in many
contracts. Now the employer pays
correspondingly less.
Single men under such contracts
benefit little from the new law,
although their dependent parents,
Is or older, potentially benefit
from the Federal pensions in case
OF death of the wage-earner. Mar
ried men get more help, since Fed
eral retirement payments are
given to aged wives, and children
IN some cases, but aren't counted
In figuring employers payments
under most recently negotiated
contracts.
In another way, the new higher
Federal payments do assist work.
ers whose unions own their own
pensions. A. man takes his social
security rights with him when he
changes jobs; to collect the private
pension he has to work for the
same employer Is years in most
cases.
Tomorrow: How to make sure
you get all your benefits.