Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 07/21/2003

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
Several weeks ago you had and article about obtaining maximum Social Security benefits. I was in the Woman’s Army Corps (WAC) from February 1949 until October 1951. When I took my DD214 (and your article) to the local SSA Office they told me that “ I apparently” had been given credit for my time in service. I then called the National SSA Office number and asked them to check my record to make sure I had been given credit for my service time—particularly 1949 and 1950. A short time later I received a letter that seems to dispute the information in your article.

If I should have received credit for the period of my honorable service, please advise me how to go about pursuing this issue, i.e. is there a special law or regulation covering these Social Security earnings credits? Thank you for your assistance and any helpful information you may offer.

Harriet B.
Clinton Maryland

Dear Harriet
It seems like the aparchecks at the SSA don’t know their own laws and regulations. Read on.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
After reading your column in the Feb. 2003 Washington Times, I sent a letter to Social Security and ultimately received a response to the sum of $28,534.60. In addition to the retroactive benefits, I also received an increase in my monthly check for my military service.

Initially I was told it was a no-go but I insisted with the result I mentioned.

I was a Captain with the Third Infantry Division who just smacked the Iraq Army flat in four weeks. I guess some of my outfits can do attitude rubbed off on me in my quest for my earned Social Security benefits.

Comradely,
Charles W., M.D.
Fresno, California

Dear Charles.
Thanks for sharing your favorable outcome with the Sarge. For those still fighting the fight with Social Security, I have included some of the highlights from my original column on this issue.

• "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.
• 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.

SHAFT KUDOS
During the last presidential election there were many concerns about the verification of ballots especially those mailed from overseas.

The Pitney Bowes Corporation has for many years been using a combination of digital printing, secure encryption and networks to provide security and verification of postage funds totaling more than $14 billion per year.

In light of their experience Pitney Bowes is developing a service based around these technologies which could provide verifiable date stamping for ballots which are submitted overseas. This would allow the ballots when received, to be authenticated for date of submission and subsequent inclusion in the vote.

This system when implemented, could be stationed at embassies, military bases and a variety of different network connections could be developed to suit any specific voter or control requirements.

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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