The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1955-03-10
Changes In our Social Security
BY Robert b. YOumans
Manager of the GAINESVILLE
Social Security Office


to see him. For years he has been
kidding be about his social secu-
rity. He is an accountant. He has
his own offices not far from the
social security office. And as a
self-employed professional man
he hasn't been eligible for old
age and survivors insurance pro
lection.
/ can remember his jesting one
time, Here l am-one of the
social security representatives
best friends. But can earn
social security credits? No! I
must say that 1 feel left out.
About four fifths of the people
in this town are covered under
the law, but I'm not!"
/ knew he was only Joking
then, but behind his smile there
was a more serious thought. We
had been talking one day and
the discussion got around to the
future. i remember my account
ant friend saying something to
this effect: "You know we ac-
countants and most other pro-
fessional people who work for
themselves make pretty good
money. A lot of folks think that
we have no worries about the
future. But things that a person
never expects have a way of
happening. Suppose / had died
when i was just starting out in
my business. / didn't have many
savings in those days. What
would have happened to my
family? Or suppose I should die
a few years from now. I've saved
quite a bit, but if my wife had
any big expenses, those savings
wouldn't last long. I'm not jok-
ing when l say that / wish I
were eligible for the social
security program A lot of my
older clients and friends and
some of my young ones too are
getting their benefits now And
| am little envious of them"
AS l said earlier, l was glad
to see my old friend again, be-
cause now he is one of about 612
million more working men and
women who will begin earning
social security credits automati-
cally on January /, 1855. To be
more specific, he is one of about |
100000 professional people in
this country who will have
future protection for himself and
his family.
Other professional workers
covered by social security as of |
January l, 1855, are self-employ- |
ed architects, engineers, and fu-
neral directors.
| thought I'd better mention |
the fact to him that he will pay |
his social security taxes on his
nett earnings from his. business |
just as all self-employed men and |
women do. 1t IS a three percent |
tax which he will pay with his
1855 income tax which is due on
April is, 1856 He is to report |
his net yearly earnings of not |
less than $400 or more than
$4,000 on the special social
security supplement, which will
be a part Of his regular income
tax form 1040,
This will be his first step to-
ward future old-age and surviv-
ors insurance benefits for him
and his family. But my friend |
had many questions to ask me.
He had read my earlier articles |.
about becoming insured, figuring II
benefits, the four-year "droup-
OUT, but he wanted even more
detailed explanations about these n
things, how the new law has 4
changed the Social Security Act, Il
and the effect the 1854 amend
ments will have on self-employ-
ed people. So / told him about
our free information leaflets ex-
planning the recent changes in
the social security law.
/ gave him copies of them
when he came in today to get
his first social security card. And
he said they looked like good
hand-books for answering his
questions about social security. II
l have a supply of these leaf
lets for all employed and self
employed people whose earnings
will start counting toward old
age and survivors insurance on !
January l, 1855. They will want
to learn like my accountant
all about their duties and
rights under the new law
IF you pay SIT a month or
more to your baby-sitter or maid,
you will probably have to pay a
Social Security tax in April
Robert B. Youmans, Manager Of
the GAINESVILLE District Office of
the Social Security Administra-
tion, sos South Street, said to-
day. Starting January /, 1855,
any household worker, who is
paid $50 or more cash wages by
one employer in a calendar
quarter, such as January through
March, is covered by the amend