News: Abbotsford - Social Security Act Launched (19 Nov 1936)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

----Source: The Tribune-Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 11/21/2018

Originally published in the Abbotsford Tribune, Thursday, November 19, 1936

Social Security forms were distributed Tuesday to employers in Abbotsford. These must be fill n and returned by November 21.

This data the government is seeking from about 5,000,000 business establishments. Questions include: name of business, description, address, number of employed, etc.

November 24, employees will receive through employers, forms know as “application for account number.” On return of these to the post office, employee will receive the number of his social security account - a card similar to an insurance card.

Briefly, the Act calls for a one percent tax paid by both employer and employee each month, starting with the January 1, 1937 payroll.

These taxes increase one-half percent every three years until in 1949, and thereafter they will be three percent for each employer and employee. Incomes up to $3,000 are taxable.

Before a person can be pensioned, two stipulations must be met: He must have earned at least $2,000 between this December 31 and his 65th birthday.

He must have worked in five different calendar years from January 1, until that birthday. Minimum pension is $10 and maximum is $85.

Should a person retire at 65 and then return to work from time to time, the pension check will be held up for each month in which he receives wages from an employment covered by the law.