# SSR 63-29: SSR 63-29: SECTIONS 202, 215, AND 217. -- COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS -- USE OF MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS

> Federal · Rulings · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_29

## Section

- **Citation:** SSR 63-29
- **Heading:** SSR 63-29: SECTIONS 202, 215, AND 217. -- COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS -- USE OF MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Rulings
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Social Security Rulings / OASI / Benefits in Case of Veterans / SSR 63-29

## Text

SSR 63-29

A worker, M, born in February 1931, died in June 1962. He had served on
active duty in the United States Marine Corps from March 20, 1951, through
March 19, 1954, when he received an honorable discharge. His social
security earnings record showed the following entries of earnings: 1937
through 1953 -- none; 1954 -- $388.50; 1955 -- $1,126.51; 1956 --
$2,238.72; 1957 -- $1,809.80; 1958 through 1962 -- none. No benefit based
on any part of his military service had been awarded by any Federal
agency.

Upon M's death, his widow, who was living with him when he died, filed
application on his earnings record for mother's insurance benefits and a
lump-sum death payment for herself, and for child's insurance benefits on
behalf of their minor son who was in her care. The widow and son met all
requirements for entitlement to the benefits claimed, with monthly
benefits beginning June 1962. The amounts of the benefits to which they
are entitled must be determined.

Under section 202(g) and (d), a mother's insurance benefit and a child's
insurance benefit payable on a deceased worker's earnings record are each
equal to three-fourth's of the worker's primary insurance amount. Under
section 202(i), the lump-sum death payment is (subject to exceptions not
pertinent here) either $255 or 3 times the worker's primary insurance
amount, whichever is less.

Under sections 215(a) and 215(b), M's primary insurance amount is based
on his average monthly wage in his "benefit computation years." In this
case, the benefit computation years are those 4 years in which M's
earnings were highest, selected from the years after 1950 up to or
including the year in which he died (1962). The number of benefit
computation years, 4, was derived (as required by the provisions of
section 215(b) applicable in M's case) by subtracting 5 from the number of
years elapsing after 1950 or, if later, the year in which M
attained age 21 (1952), and before the year in which he died
were highest, selected from the years after 1950 up to or
including the year in which he died (1962). The number of benefit
computation years, 4, was derived (as required by the provisions of
section 215(b) applicable in M's case) by subtracting 5 from the number of
years elapsing after 1950 or, if later, the year in which M
attained age 21 (1952), and before the year in which he died
(1962). The number of years elapsing after 1952 and before 1962 is 9;
subtracting 5 from this number, the number of benefit computation years is
4.

Accordingly, M's primary insurance amount depends upon his average
monthly wage in the 4 years between 1951 and 1962 (inclusive) in which his
earnings were highest, earnings in any year being the total of wages and
self-employment creditable to the worker for that year. Before the years
of highest earnings can be selected, it is necessary to consider the
effect upon M's creditable earnings of his active military service from
March 20, 1951, through March 19, 1954.

Military service before 1957 is excluded from employment covered under
the Act, and thus, remuneration for such service is not creditable
earnings. However, under section 217 of the Act, a veteran is deemed
(subject to certain conditions, all of which were met in M's case) to have
been paid wages of $160 in each month during any part of which he served
in the active military service of the United States after September 15,
1940, and before 1957. Such military service wage credits are added to any
wages or self-employment income with which the veteran is otherwise
credited.
teran is deemed
(subject to certain conditions, all of which were met in M's case) to have
been paid wages of $160 in each month during any part of which he served
in the active military service of the United States after September 15,
1940, and before 1957. Such military service wage credits are added to any
wages or self-employment income with which the veteran is otherwise
credited.

Thus, section 217(e) requires that wage credits of $160 per month for
each of the months March 1951 through March 1954 be added to the actual
wages credited on M's earnings record. The total military service wage
credits for each of the years involved are: 1951 -- $1,600 (10 months);
1952 -- $1,920 (12 months); 1953 -- $1,920 (12 months); 1954 -- $480 (3
months). With the addition of these credits, M's earnings for social
security purposes are: 1937-1950 -- none; 1951 -- $1,600; 1952 -- $1,920;
1953 -- $1,920; 1954 -- $868.50; 1955 -- $1,126.51; 1956 -- $2,238.72;
1957 -- $1,809.80; 1958 through 1962 -- none.

M's benefit computation years, the 4 years after 1950 in which his
creditable earnings were highest, are thus 1952, 1953, 1956, and 1957; and
his total earnings in those years are $7,888.52. This amount, when divided
by 48 (the number of months in the 4 years), gives M an average monthly
wage of $164.34, which amount must, under section 215(e)(2), be reduced to
$164, the next lower multiple of $1. The primary insurance amount
corresponding to such an average monthly wage (as determined from the
table in section 215(a)) is $76.
his total earnings in those years are $7,888.52. This amount, when divided
by 48 (the number of months in the 4 years), gives M an average monthly
wage of $164.34, which amount must, under section 215(e)(2), be reduced to
$164, the next lower multiple of $1. The primary insurance amount
corresponding to such an average monthly wage (as determined from the
table in section 215(a)) is $76.

Accordingly, it is held that M's primary insurance amount is $76.
Therefore, his widow is entitled to mother's insurance benefits of $57
(three-fourth's of M's primary insurance amount) for each month beginning
June 1962, and to a lump-sum death payment of #228 (i.e., the lesser of
$255 or 3 times M's primary insurance amount); and his son is entitled to
child's insurance benefits of $57 (i.e., three-fourth's of M's primary
insurance amount) per month beginning June 1962.

## Nearby sections

- [SSR 60-16 SSR 60-16. MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- SERVICE IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_60_16.md)
- [SSR 61-49 SSR 61-49. MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- EFFECT OF BENEFIT AWARDED BY ANOTHER FEDERAL AGENCY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_49.md)
- [SSR 62-13 SSR 62-13. VETERANS -- MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- EFFECT OF CORRECTION OF ARMY RECORDS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_62_13.md)
- [SSR 63-29 SSR 63-29: SECTIONS 202, 215, AND 217. -- COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS -- USE OF MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_29.md)
- [SSR 64-12 SSR 64-12: SECTION 217(h). -- MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- MILITARY SERVICE FOR POLISH GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE DURING WORLD WAR II](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_64_12.md)
- [SSR 64-15 SSR 64-15: P.L. 87-574 (76 Stat. 308). -- STATUS OF SERVICES PERFORMED BY PATIENTS AND MEMBERS IN VA HOSPITALS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_64_15.md)
- [SSR 64-64 SSR 64-64: SECTIONS 217(a). -- VETERANS -- MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- EFFECT OF BENEFIT AWARDED BY ANOTHER FEDERAL AGENCY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_64_64.md)
- [SSR 68-11 SSR 68-11: SECTIONS 217(a), 217(d), and 217(e). -- VETERANS -- MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- PRESIDENTIAL PARDON AFTER DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_11.md)
- [SSR 69-47 SSR 69-47: SECTION 229(a). -- DEDUCTIONS -- MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- STATUS OF DEEMED WAGES FOR DEDUCTION PURPOSES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_69_47.md)
- [SSR 70-13 SSR 70-13: SECTIONS 217(a)(1)(B) and 217(e)(1)(B). -- VETERANS -- GRATUITOUS MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- USE PRECLUDED IF PREVIOUSLY CREDITED FOR NONREGULAR MILITARY SERVICE RETIRED PAY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_70_13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_29. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.