Smyrna times., 1954-10-28
CHANGE SOCIAL
SECURITY LAW
Conditions Under Which
Benefits Can Be Paid To
Change Next Year
TELLS OF CHANGES

Beginning next year, the con-
ditions under which benefits can
be paid while person is working
will be changed" it was stated
by Myron Milbouer, manager of
the Wilmington Social Security
Office. "The earnings test for the
employed and the self-employed
will be the same; all earned in
come; will be judged on yearly
basis after 1854" he said.
Under the old law, only the
earnings permitted to self-em-
ployed beneficiaries under age rs
were judged on a yearly basis.
They were allowed net earnings
from covered work up to $1,000
in a year without loss of benefits.
A wage Garner under rs lost one
benefit payment for each month
in which he earned over SIS in
work covered by social security.
With wage earners and self-em-
ployed persons now placed on a
comparable basis for retirement
test purposes, the basis for one
of the most persistent criticisms
of the old law has been removed,
according to Mr.. Milbouer.
The local manager also explain
ed that after 1854, if you are un-
der age 72, and getting monthly
benefit payments as retired
worker, you are permitted earn
ings from employment or self-em-
ployment of as much as $1,000 in
a year. The total of allowable
earnings, however, is the combi-
nation of any earnings from both
employment and self-employment
of as much as $1,000 in a year.
The total of allowable earnings,
however, is the combination OF
any earnings from both employ
ment and self-employment. Furth-
ermore, earnings from any kind
of work must be counted, whether
or not the work is covered by the
social security law.
Here is an example how the
new law will work. Mr.. ]. re-
tired last year and started get
ting old-age benefit payments. He
took a seasonal job last summer
at $50 a month for three months.
Since he exceeded the $75-a-month
limitation on earnings, he could
not get benefit payments for
these three months. His BROTH
er, also retired and getting old
age benefit payments, has a small
business. Last year, he had net
earnings of $500 from that bust
ness, which did not affect his
benefit payments. Moreover, he
took a seasonal job for two
months and had wage income
of SIS a month from that course.
This additional earned income did
not affect his benefit payments.
In 1855, and thereafter, the pic
ture will be different. Mr. j. will
be permitted to take a seasonal
job next summer at any wage
without losing any of his months
benefit payments provided the to-
tai of his yearly earnings does
not exceed $1,000. On the other
hand, his brother will lose one or
more months payments if his
self-employment income or the
total of his self-employment net
earnings plus his wage income
from a seasonal job exceeds ST.
200.
In brief, after 1854, if you are
getting old-age and survivors
benefit payments, work through
out the year, and have earnings
from any source in excess of ST.
200 in a year, you will lose one
months payment for every $50,
or fraction of $50, you earn over
$780," Mr.. Milbouer stated. The
term throughout the year" is
significant. If Mr.. J. did not have
wages in excess of $50 in any
month, no matter how much his
total years earnings might be,
he would not lose his social secur-
ity benefit for that month. BY
the same token, if his brother did
not render substantial services in
self-employment for any month,
or did not have wages in excess