Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1954-10-15
!. Benefit Increases

!. Benefit Increases
All old-age-retirement and sur
vivors benefits will be increased
beginning with the month of Sep
tember, 1854. For workers already
retired, their wives over 65, and
survivors, these higher amounts
will be paid in October automatic
ally; IT is NOT NECESSARY TO
APPLY FOR RECONCILIATION.
The immediate increase in re-
tired and retiring r4Skers' pri-
mary benefit amounts will be
from $500 to $3.50 a month. For
example on an Old Benefit of
$5940 or less, the New Benefit
will be $500 higher. On the maxi
mum Old Benefit of $500, the
New Benefit will be $98.50.
The benefit amounts of wives
over 65 and survivors will be in
creased in accordance with the
new higher workers primary bene-
fit. For example, the old maxi
mum for a retired couple Of
$127.50 will be increased to $147.80
and the maximum for a widow with
two children under 18 will 60 from
$16890 to $19710
The amendments increase the
possible new maximum primary
benefit for a retired worker to
$108 so, but this new top amount
will not be payable to workers re-
firing before mid-1956. This is be-
cause retired worker, to qualify
for the $108.50 figure, must have
paid taxes on earnings of $4,000
annually for not less than & calen-
dar quarters. Social Security tax
on earnings up to $4,000 Gnstead
of the present ceiling of $4,000
will not start until January 1, 1855
Some workers retiring later next
year or early in 1856 may be ell
igible for more than $98.50 if their
earnings are over $3600 next year.
II. "Drop-Our of Low
Earnings Years
A new drop out" feature Of
the law permits the dropping out
of up to five years of low or no
earnings in the computation of
average wages, making it possible
to have a higher average and thus
higher benefit. This feature is
mainly intended for persons re-
firing in future.
III. Liberalization of Work
Clause"
BEGINNING JANUARY, 1855,
the old work clause" limiting
earnings of a Social Security bene-
ficiary to $500 monthly has been
llbcrallzed to permit outside earn
ingS up to a cumulative amount of
$1,000 in year before <ocial Sc
curity is affected. Also, starting
next year, all. earnings restrictions
are removed for workers at age 72
instead of the present age IS.
~. Freeze" of Status in Case
of Disability
The new law provides for a
freeze" of a workers SocAl Sc
curity status during a period in
which he is totally disabled. This
provision, excluding tne disability
period in the determination of the
workers eligibility and benefit a.
mount, may benefit workers now
disabled for periods as far back
as l94l. However, applications can
not be made before January /,
1855, and detailed regulations
covering procedures have not yet
been issued:
v. Tax Rate
The Social Security tax rate re-
mains 90 on employer and 90
on employee, but as noted above,
the tax base will increase from the
present $4,000 to $4,000 starting
January |, 1855.
NOTE: This preliminary summary
does not attempt to cover all the
new provisions of the law nor
all details regarding changes
listed, but it will answer the
most asked" questions.
We learn that MARTIN FEI
CERT, Democratic candidate fol
Congressman of the 5th Congress
slonal District, heard on Guy
Nunn's "Eyeopener" CKLW radio
show also has scheduled daily one.
minute announcements at 7:20
am. and 6:18 pm. over Station
WONW, Defiance beginning Oc-
tober goth. Q
The Sum of Wisdom is that time
is never lost that is devoted to
work. Ralph Waldo Emmcrson
The White House bill for cleo
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