The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-09-09
KNOW YOUR
SOCIAL SECURITY
Too bed nsey gave
fire a place to ssart!


The sweeping new amend
ments to the Social Security Act
signed into law Sept 1st, by
President Eisenhower, will affect
virtually every family in south
eastern Ohio, according to
Robert B. Youmans, district
manager of the Social Security
Administration.
'The protection of old-age and
survivors insurance is now ex-
tended to 9 out of 10 families in
the community" Mr.. Youmans
said, "and the benefit payments,
not only to future beneficiaries
but also to those now on the
rolls, have been substantially
increased"
The amended Social Security
Act
l. Extends coverage, com
mencing January /, 1855, to
about 10 million more gainfully-
employed people, including self
employed farm operators and
most farm workers.
2. Increases benefits TO all pre-
sent and future retired workers
and to their dependents and sur
vivors.
3. Determines benefits on a
more advantageous basis by per-
mitting worker to drop out as
many as five years of low or no
earnings in computing his aver
age wage, and by increasing to
$4,000 the amount of annual
earnings that can be counted to-
ward benefits.
4. Preserves the rights of total
ly disabled workers to any rights
they may have earned and pro-
vides for their referral to State
agencies, for rehabilitation SER
vices.
S. Permits employed and self
employed beneficiaries under
age Y to have earnings up to
$1,000 in a year without loss of
social security payments. "a
beneficiary Y or over will be
able to receive all his payments
regardless of the amount he may
be earning.)
Mr.. Youmans went on to ex-'
plain that of the 10 million more
persons eligible for the protec-
ton Of old-age and survivors in
surnace, approximately Ga mil
lion will be brought into the
system on January /, 1855. An
other 334 million may elect COW
erage under special arrange
ments.
The largest group of gainfully
employed people in the nation
not heretofore covered by social
security has Alow been brought
in-the 3.6 million self-employed
farm operators. Commencing
January l, 1865, these farm
operators will be covered on the
same terms as other self-em-
ployed people, except for special
provisions under certain condi-
ton sfor figuring the amount of
their net annual earnings.
Abohshing the old REQUIRE
ment that farm workers be reg
uIarly employed by one employ
er means that over two million
additional farm employees will
nave social security protection
for themselves and their fam
lies. The new provision simply
requires that the farm hand earn
$I0O cash wages in a calendar
year from one employer.
About 3,500,000 employees Of
State and local governments, ex-
cluded up to now because they
are under a retirement system,
may now be brought under
social security subject to a re-
ferendum.
Ministers, whether employed
or self-employed, may come un-
der the law as if they were self
employed persons. Included in
this provision are Christian
Science practitioners.
Other self-employed groups to
be covered by social security as
OF January l, 1855, are profes-
sional engineers, accountants
architects, and funeral directors,
Immediately effective is the
increase in monthly payments to
persons now getting benefits.
These increases will show on the
September checks which will be
mailed early in October.
The present minimum paw
ment of $25 to a retired worker
has been raised to $50; the maxi
mum of $85 has been increased
to $98.50. Dependents and sur
vlvors now getting monthly
benefits will get proportionate
increases, with every family
unit assured an increase of at
least $5. The maximum family