Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 03/24/2003

Dear Sgt Shaft:

I am a veteran of WW II serving from July 1946 to January 1948. I was honorably discharged with Technician fifth grade. I now am on Social Security. I sure would like to know if I am entitled to more social security benefits. Looking forward to hearing from you soon on this subject.

Seymour K

Dear Seymour. I have received many inquiries since my column on Social Security. The following is some highlights of SSA Publication No. 05-10017 Military Service And Social Security that you might find helpful:

• “The earnings for active duty military service or active duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Social Security has covered inactive duty service in the armed forces reserves (such as weekend drills) since 1988. However, people who served in the military before 1957 did not pay into Social Security directly, but their records are credited with special earnings for Social Security purposes that count toward any benefits that might be due them. Additional earnings credits are given to military personnel depending on when they served. This fact sheet explains how and when these special earnings are credited and provides other information military personnel need to know about the benefits available from Social Security.
• Social Security And Medicare Taxes
  While you're in military service (from 1957 on), you pay Social Security taxes like civilian employees do. Those taxes are deducted from your pay and the U.S. government as your employer pays an equal amount. to pay for Social Security and Medicare benefits.
• How You Earn "Credits"
  To qualify for benefits, you earn "credits" through your work--up to four each year. This year, for example, you earn one credit for each $890 of wages. When you've earned $3,560, you've earned four credits for the year. Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. The extra earnings credits are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit. (No additional earnings are granted for inactive duty training, and Social Security cannot add extra earnings credits to your earnings record until you file for Social Security benefits.)
• Additional earnings are granted for: Service In 1978 And Later For every $300 in active duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1,200 a year. If you enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, and didn't complete at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional earnings. Check with Social Security for details.
• Service In 1957 Through 1977
  You are credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which you received active duty basic pay.
• Service In 1940 Through 1956
  If you were in the military during this period, including attendance at a service academy, you did not pay Social Security taxes. However, your Social Security record may be credited with $160 a month in earnings for military service from Sept. 16, 1940, through Dec. 31, 1956, under the following circumstances: * you were honorably discharged after 90 or more days of service, or you were released because of a disability or injury received in the line of duty; or * you are still on active duty; or * you are applying for survivors benefits and the veteran died while on active duty. You cannot receive these special earnings credits if you're receiving a federal benefit based on the same years of service. There is one exception to this rule: if you were on active duty after 1956, you can still get the special earnings for 1951 through 1956, even if you're receiving a military retirement based on service during that period.

Seymour, I suggest you and other vets take a copy of this column and a copy of their DD 214 to their local Social Security office and tell them Sarge sent you.

Dear Sgt. Shaft
Please publish the following announcement of our Navy Reunion in your next available edition:

USS John Land AP 167 WWII
Sept. 17-20, 2003 - Connecticut
Contact: Dan Grish
46 Straitsville Road
Prospect, CT 06712
203-758-4597

Thank you. Sincerely,
Dan Grish, Coordinator

Shaft Kudos
Hats off to U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) recently introduced legislation, The Veterans Health Care Funding Guarantee Act, to establish mandatory funding for the Veterans Administration’s Health Care program taking it out of the year-to-year appropriations process.

For the past several years Congress has provided funding for veterans health care in excess of the VA’s request.

Two years ago, Johnson led the fight for a $1.4 billion increase in veterans health care funding over the Administration's initial request. Last year, he succeeded in adding an additional $1.1 billion. During Senate consideration of the Fiscal Year 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, Johnson worked with members of the Appropriations Committee to ensure that $417 million in additional funding for veterans health care was included in the bill.

Given the current problems within the VA health care system, I was disappointed that the President has refused to spend $275 million of the emergency funding that was earmarked for veterans health care. According the Independent Budget--which is prepared by the Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars--the Administration=s Fiscal Year 2003 request for VA health care is $1.7 billion less than what is needed to fully fund our veterans= health care needs,@ Johnson said.

For more information on Senator Tim Johnson visit his website at http://johnson.senate.gov. To contact Senator Johnson's communications office via e-mail, write his Communications Director at bob_martin@johnson.senate.gov or his Deputy Communications Director at leslie_knapp@johnson.senate.gov.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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