SSR 60-16. MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- SERVICE IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC)

An inquiry has been received as to whether social security wage credits

may be granted for service in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)

under the same conditions as members of the various components of the

military forces.

Public Law 86-142, approved by the President on August 7, 1959, provides

that in computing the years of active service of any female member of the

armed forces, all active service performed in the WAAC after May 13, 1942,

and before September 30, 1943, shall be credited as active service for all

purposes, except the right to promotion, provided that the member

performed active service in the armed forces after September 29, 1943.

This provision is interpreted to mean that a member of the WAAC, under the

conditions set forth, was in active military service within the meaning of

section 217(a) of the Social Security Act.

Section 217(a) of the Social Security Act, as amended, provides that an

individual who meets the requirements of that section will receive wage

credits of $160 a month for each month of active military or naval service

occurring during the period of World War II (September 16, 1940, through

July 24, 1947). Accordingly, it is held that members of the WAAC

who performed active service in the armed forces after September 29, 1943,

may be granted gratuitous wage credits on the basis of their service in

the WAAC under the same conditions as members of the various components of

the military forces.