Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-06
SECURITY FOR YOU
Household
Employees
Cautioned
BY RAY HENRY
Associated Press stan Writer

Household workers have a
bigger responsibility than other
workers in making sure their
employers are meeting Social
Security requirements.
The reason is simple: most
household workers - that is,
maids, cooks, laundresses, gard
eners. lhandymen, etc.-work
for housewives. And housewives
are usually a lot less familiar
with Social Security require
ments than other employers.
Thus, there's a better chance
they'll make errors or fail to re-
port an employees earnings to
Social Security.
So. if you're a household
worker. you should try to make
sure your employer meets the
Social Security requirements so
far as your Social Security rec
ord is concerned. If she doesn't
your Social Security payments
may be smaller.
just what is an employer
supposed to do when she hires
you as a household worker?
If you receive at least $50
every three months in wages,
tshe's supposed to deduct 2H
per cent from your pay. add an
other 2H per cent from her
own pocket. and pay the total
to her District Director of In
ternal Revenue, at the end Of
each calendar quarter of the
year. A calendar quarter is a
three month period beginning
January /, April /, July l, or
October l. Your employer can
get special forms for reporting
your Social Security taxes
through the nearest Internal
Revenue Office.
Right Amount Important
It's not only important that
your employer report your earn
ings, it's just as important that
he report the right amount.
This is because the size of
Social Security payments are,
in general, based on your an
nual earnings. If your employer
reports earnings smaller than
those you've actually had, your
future Social Security pay
mentS may be greatly reduced.
There are two ways to make
sure your employer is doing the
right thing.
If you know your employer is
reporting your earnings and
you only want to check on
whether he's reporting the
right amounts, all you have to
do is drop a post card or letter
to: Social Security Administra-
ton. Gambler Building. Balti-
more 2. Maryland. Give your
full name and address, Social
Security number. date Of birth,
and sign your name in ink the
way it appears on your Social
Security card. Ask for a state
ment Of wages. If the wage
statement you get from Social
Security doesn't agree with
your own records, get in touch
with your nearest Social Secu-
rity Office.
Periodic Check Urged
But suppose your employer Is
reporting none Of your earn
ings? Your best bet in this case.
is to. get directly in touch with
your nearest Social Security
Office. Ask for an investiga-
ton Of your work. II it turns
out that your employer should
be reporting your earnings
under Social Security. he'll be
forced to do so. What's more,
if there are any past-due Social
Security taxes on your work,
he'll have to pay both his share
and yours.
The Social Security people
urge you to check on your
Social Security account at least
once every three years. When
an error in your account goes
undetected for longer than
three years, it's usually too late
to correct it.
You may obtain Ray Henry'S
new Social Security handbook
by sending IS cents in coin to
Room 400, Evening Star Build
ing. Washington 4, requesting
Security for You" booklet.)
tFrom Associated Press Newsfeatures)
Monday: How to recover excess
G. -