SOCIAL SECURITY FOR FARM WORKERS
“1 want to do what’s right for
Frank Harvey. He’s worked for
me for a long time—he’s a good
farm hand-and an honest family
man.”
It was George Wilson, operator
of the XX Ranch, talking to the
manager of his local social security
office.
What Wilson wanted to know
was whether Harvey’s farm work
would count toward old-age and
survivors insurance.
The answer Wilson got applies to
tens of thousands of other Frank
Harveys who earn a livelihood by
agricultural work, so let’s tell it
here—as if you are that farm
worker.
Eefore you become eligible for
social security credit as a farm
laborer, you must first work a full
“calendar quarter” for one em
ployer. (A “calendar quarter”
consists of the three consecutive
months beginning on January 1,
April 1, July 1, or October 1.)
You must remain in the employ
of the same employer throughout
this first or “qualifying calendar
quarter,” although you do not
necessarily have to do farm work
for him. Nor is it necessary that
you work any particular number
of days, or for a certain amount
of wages.
You do not receive any social
security credit for your earnings
from farm work during that period,
but the work during the period
qualifies you so that you can get
social security credit for further
work for the same employer.
During the next 3-month period
you must be employed by the same
fanner on a full-time basis, you
must earn at least $50 in cash
wages, and you must perform ag
ricultural work on at least 60 days.
(Full time means the prevailing
work arrangement for that type
of work in your community.)
If you are ill and cannot work
on certain days, if you report for
work and are excused for the en
tire day or part of the day, if
weather prevents you from work
ing, or even if you get a vacation
during that period—but get paid
for these days as if you worked
full-time on each of them—then
these days count for your social
security credit. The 60 or more
working days do not have to be
consecutive days or in consecutive
weeks.
If you have met this regularity
test, and have been paid cash wages
of at least $50 for your agricultural
work for this farm operator during
that second quarter, your cash
wages will be credited to your social
security account. The word “cash”
is stressed because wages in kind—
rent, meals, a share in the har
vest—are not counted toward social
security, benefits. Only the wages
you receive in cash (or checks, etc.)
count. 1
Your cash earnings in subsequent 1
calendar quarters also will count as 1
long as you remain in the employ
of this same farm operator anil
perform agricultural work on the
same basis for at least 60 days.
Now, let’s suppose that a time
comes when you are not paid for
as many as 60 different days of
agricultural work by your employer
in a certain calendar quarter. You
will get social security credit for
your earnings in this quarter if 1
your cash wages are as much 1
as S50.
Your failure to do farm work
for as many as 60 days may or
may not break your continuity of
employment. This continuity will
not be broken, for example, if you
do agricultural work for less than
GO days and then work for the same I
employer in some other capacity
during the rest of the quarter. In ;
that case, you could meet the 60
day-$50 test in the following quar
ter for the same operator. You
could earn social security credits
without a break.
On the other hand, your failure
to earn cash wages for as many as
60 days of farm work may be be
cause you lost or gave up your job; j
or your farm work may be of a
seasonal nature. A calendar quar
ter may come when it will not be
possible for your employer to pay j
you for as many as 60 days of farm
work or to keep you in his employ :
continuously doing some nonagri
cultural work.
In that case, even if you meet
the 60 day-$50 test in the following
calendar quarter you will not earn
social security credit for that work.
You must spend another qualifying
quarter of continuous employment,
cither with the same farm operator
or another one before your agricul
tural work could again count to
ward social security benefits.
Frank Harvey does not have this
problem. He is regularly employed
by George Wilson on a full-time
basis, calendar quarter after cal
endar quarter the year around. In
every quarter he is paid well over
$50 for at least 60 different days
of work.
Harvey is a typical example of
a farm worker who is consistently
building old-age and survivors in
surance protection for himself and
for his family. As Wilson said to
the social security office inter
viewer: “I want to what’s right
for Frank Harvey.”
Wilson now understands just
what to do. Four times a year, he
reports the cash wages paid to his
worker, and pays the 3 percent so
cial security tax; one half of this
;ax he deducts from Harvey’s cash
wages; Wilson’s contribution is an
equal amount. He sends the re
sorts, together with the tax to the
collector of internal revenue. These
cash wages are credited to Harvey's
social security account.
In old age, or in case pf his un
;imely death, this farm worker and
lis dependent family have the pro
ection of social seeuritv.
FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY
Social Security Administration
Bureau of Old-Age & Survivors
Insurance
SI 200 IN PRIZES TO BE i
SHARED BY STUDENTS
AND SCHOOLS 1
Eight Alaska students, the
Juneau High School and Fair
banks Denali grade school will
ihare the $1200 in prizes offered
in the 1952 Alaska Salmon Insti
tute Student Essay Contest, it
'tvas announced this week.
The essay contest, limited to
.Alaskan students, was divided
into two categories with equal
prizes being awarded in both the
elementary and high school divi
sions. The subject for all essays
was the Alaska salmon industry
and its importance to the Terri
tory. i
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS
(OREAN ORPHANS TO
SET WARM SWEATERS
Members of the American Le
gion Auxiliary are making long
sleeve pullover swaters that will
be sent to Korean children in
designated orphanages, it was an
nounced this week.
In making the announcement,
members urge that anyone who
would like to make sweaters for
these children aged three to 16.
contact Mrs. Vera Rorrison. The
Auxiliary will pay for the cost of
the wool yarn. Also, they added,
if anyone has new or practically
new sweaters in the mentioned
sizes, that they would like to do
nate, Mrs. Rorrison or any Auxil
ary member mav be contacted.
HOMEMAKERS CLUB
NOTES
Riverbend Club »
The Riverbend Homemakers’
club held its regular meeting Jan
uary 15 at the home of Mrs. Ver
non Williams, former home of the
Arvid Johnsons.
We planned to have a party
January 30 for our 4-H members
and their parents at which time
we will present the two members
who completed their project with
a billfold.
Mrs. Max Sherrod gave a very
interesting talk on African Vio
lets and presented each member
with a start.
Cheechako Club
Fourteen members of the Chee
chako Homemakers’ club met at
the home of Mrs. Ida Statler Jan
uary 14. Roll call was answered
with jokes.
The club chose their work pro
ject for the coming month and
pan to make aprons, dressing
gowns and bead and metal craft
items that will be contributed to
a notion tree the homemakers’
council is sponsoring. Refresh
ments were served by the hostess.
The next regular meeting will
be held February 9 at the home
of Mrs. Clara Whetstone.
Sutton Homesteaders
The Sutton Homesteaders
Homemakers’ Club held their
regular meeting at the home of
Mrs. Joyce Leppanen, Wednes
day, January 14.
The club was honored by add
ing two new members, Mrs. Hazel
Harris and Mrs. Adelaide Kezak.
Mrs. Kezak brought her leather
tooling to the meeting, instruct
ing those who already have their
kits and class participation to
those who have not as yet bought
them.
Pi’oject leaders for the next
meeting were selected. Mrs. Har
ris and Mrs. Ruth Callison were
designated for the month of Feb
ruary.
Pot-luck lunch was served. .
Mrs. Yolanda Bairn was hostess
to the club on December 12 when
we held our Christmas party. No
regular meeting was held, the
evening given over to entertain
ment and ’exchange of gifts.
43 PALMER STUDENTS
MAKE HONOR ROLL
During the third, six-week
period in the Palmer Public
Schools, 43 students were listed
on the honor roll with grade 8-A
holding the highest percentage in
Junior High School and grade 12
the highest in the Senior High
School.
The following students were an
nounced as honor students for the
period ending January 9. JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL (7-a) Jeanne
Brunner, Dorothy Lentz and Colin
Mick. (7-b) Gretchen Esslinger,
Sharon Schoming, Bradley Inman
and Ronald Shook. (8-a) Derain
Cuivs, Betty Schaefer, Jerry Mc
Kechnie and Leah Rae Schroeder.
(8-b) Larry Trowbridge, Stephen
Col berg, Judy Hurley, and Judy
Inman. 1
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (9-a)
Judy Bryant, Jerene Stephan and
Betty Jo Wendt. (9-b) Carol Berry, 1
Jeannetta Lindsey, Barbara Hud
gins and Marie Bennett. (10-a)
Jean Burke and Carol Colberg.
(10-b) Larry Bentti, Jane Kneff
and Carl Zaborac. (11-a) Annie
Havemeister, Dorothy Hoffman,
Ralph Kircher, Bennie Ross and *
Neola Sandvik. (11-b) Sherry Ball,
Donna Harris and Alma Roark.
(12) Mary Colberg. Margaret
Cope, Dick Geiwitz, Robert Hart
man, Geraldine Kindgren, Mary
Ada Lee, Blake McKinley and
Mary Ann Mears.
Day-Long Program
Pfaraed by ioass
The Mt. McKinley Legion No.
51, Loyal Order of Moose will
hold day-long ceremonies at the
Palmer Moose Lodge Sunday
January 25, it was announced this
week. Legionnaires from Fair
banks, Anchorage, Cordova and
Palmer will participate in the
program.
Between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.,
breakfast will be served to Leg
ionnaires and their ladies, fol
lowed by a regular meeting and
initiation by members at 11 a.m.
While members are meeting, the
women will be entertained at the
Lester Leek home.
The afternoon will be devoted
to special entertainment and a
general get-together.
Corsages, Plants
and
Git! Rowers
For All Occasions
Anchorage Music and Flower Shop
746 4th Ave. Anchorage Tel. 42325 or 23351
J
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^ff7wnT7wnnrwTr-yTrirTTnnnryy>r‘y,inriMr,;MM> Mtrwwww^t
J. VIC BROWN & SONS
"The Alaskan Jewelers"
S23 Fourth Ave., Anchorage Phone 220S1
444444^ ee*444
WATCHES DIAMONDS
SILVER NUGGET AND JADE JEWELRY
444444 444444
Prompt Attention to Moll Or tiers
Serving Alaskans for 35 years—ask any old-timer
•* 1 A
Sheet Metal Work
Furnaces Stokers Pre-fab Chimneys
Stainless Steel Work
S — Free Estimates —
PALMER SHEET METAL & HEATING
Box 1797 John Weisenberger Palmer
•********#***-X-)r*******-«"K-***4(-4f-5{-5
RELIEF LAW CLARIFIED
BY WELFARE DIRECTOR
Henry A. Harmon, director, De
sartment of Public Welfare, em
phasized again the Territorial
law regarding general reliet.
There have been an increasing
number of requests for relief
throughout the Territory during
he past month which the Welfare
Department is not able to meet.
Harmon pointed out that the
law governing general relief
(ACLA 51-2-22) specifically limits
the granting of assistance to those
persons who are “unable to earn
* livelihood in consequence of
immaturity, sickness, or physical
infirmity.”
Assistance can be granted only
on a temporary basis, with no
provision for requests for assist
ance from persons who are able
0 work but unable- to locate
work. In an extreme emergency,
such persons might be helped for
1 few days.
General relief is limited, furth
er, to those who have lived in
Alaska for at least a year. People
requesting help who have not
been here a year are assisted, in
as much as possible, to return to
he States where they have resi
lence.
General relief is never given in
rash, and orders are limited by
law not to exceed $60.00 per
nonth, per person. Food and rent
are the usual items included in
:he meeting of temporary assis
ance.
Harmon said that while the De
A dripping faucet not only is
annoying, but it is expensive
loo. The amount of water that
is wasted in this way is amaz
ing. Also it is one of those
things that costs little to re- 1
pair if repaired in time, but if
neglected may be expensive.
Don't put it off . . . Call Mac's
now.
MACS PLUMBING
and HEATING
The Frontiersman
Page 7
partment. knew that there was
hardship in many cases where
there was someone unemployed
but able:to work, it was not pos
sible under the existing law’ and
the limited appropriation to meet
these requests.
George Whetstone of the
Water Resources office spent
Thursday and Friday of last
week in the Chitna area on
resource investigations. He re
ported the temperature at 18
below.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIED
BRING RESULTS
NORTHERN
NEON
mu corp.
SIGNS
Trucks, Cars Lettered
Manufacturers of
Neon Signs, Marquees,
Store Fronts and Tube
Lighting
540 Barrow - Dial 43734
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
. •«
The Flavor Is In It!
Mmm good . . . that’s what
serve a big juicy roast of
they’ll all say when you
beef from your frozen food
locker. The freezing process
locks in all the original rich
ness and good flavor of the
freshly butchered meat and
keeps it there until the
meat is used.
You too, can enjoy the con
venience and economy of a
frozen food locker. Call us
for details.
Palmer Gold Storage
WORK
FOR
YOU
That is what everybody says when they taste delicious
fresh baked goods from the Palmer Bakery. Only the
finest of high quality ingredients are used in all our
baking. Taste tells! Prove it yourself.
BREAD — ROLLS — PIES
DO-NUTS — CAKES — COOKIES
SPECIAL ORDERS
Palmer Baking (o.
SHAMROCK BUILDING
LEONARD SOLEY, Manager
Ocean Van Lines
Weekly Sailings from Tacoma or Seattle
With General Cargo
Freight for Anchorage, Palmer and Fairbanks
v For Information Write or Phone
OCEAN VAN LINES
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Box 1344 Phone 25031
■ >- • - i,*»»
Anchorage