SSR 64-64: SECTIONS 217(a). -- VETERANS -- MILITARY SERVICE WAGE CREDITS -- EFFECT OF BENEFIT AWARDED BY ANOTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

20 CFR 404.1308 and 404.1310

SSR 64-64

The worker, P, served on active duty as an enlisted man with the United

States Army from 1914 until December 31, 1945. Although he was retired on

April 30, 1944, having completed the 30 years of service required by law

for such retirement, he was immediately recalled to service and continued

to serve on active duty until December 31, 1945, since the United States

was still engaged in World War II. He now receives Army retirement pay,

based on 30 years of service. The Army did not use the period of service

from May 1, 1944, through December 31, 1945, in determining his

eligibility for, or in computing the amount of, his retirement pay.

In December 1962 P filed an application for old-age insurance benefits.

Based upon his date of birth, February 26, 1897, he needs 11 quarters of

coverage to be fully insured and entitled to old-age insurance benefits. P

has 8 quarters of coverage in the years 1947-1949, based upon wages for

covered employment during those years. (A worker has a quarter of coverage

for any calendar quarter after 1936 in which he has been paid $50 in wages

or meets other requirements not pertinent in this case.)

Since P has only 8 of the 11 quarters of coverage he needs to be fully

insured, he is ineligible for the benefits claimed, unless he can be

credited with at least 3 additional quarters of coverage by reason of his

military service.

has a quarter of coverage

for any calendar quarter after 1936 in which he has been paid $50 in wages

or meets other requirements not pertinent in this case.)

Since P has only 8 of the 11 quarters of coverage he needs to be fully

insured, he is ineligible for the benefits claimed, unless he can be

credited with at least 3 additional quarters of coverage by reason of his

military service.

With the type of exception referred to hereafter, remuneration for

service before 1957 in the armed forces of the United States is not

creditable under the Social Security Act toward quarters of coverage.

However, pursuant to section 217(a)(1), a veteran may, under certain

conditions, be deemed 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 during World War II, i.e., September 16, 1940, through July 24,

1947. P meets all the conditions for the granting of such military service

wage credits except one. Section 217(a)(1) further provides in pertinent

part:

In the present case, a Federal agency (the United States Army) has

awarded a benefit (P's retirement pay) based on P's World War II service

before May 1, 1944. Without that service P would not meet the 30-year

requirement for Army retirement pay. P recognizes that wage credits cannot

be granted for his World War II service before May 1, 1944; but he

contends that since his retirement pay is not based, either in whole or in

part, on his World War II service from May 1, 1944, through December 31,

1945, he should be granted military service wage credits of $160 per month

for that period.

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requirement for Army retirement pay. P recognizes that wage credits cannot

be granted for his World War II service before May 1, 1944; but he

contends that since his retirement pay is not based, either in whole or in

part, on his World War II service from May 1, 1944, through December 31,

1945, he should be granted military service wage credits of $160 per month

for that period.

Accordingly, the question to be decided is whether the fact that a

Federal benefit is based on only a part of the veteran's World War II

service precluded the granting of military service wage credits for the

remainder of his World War II service. P's entitlement to old-age

insurance benefits depends on the resolution of this issue. With such

credits for the period May 1, 1944, through December 31, 1945, P would

have 7 additional quarters of coverage, (for the last 3 calendar quarters

of 1944 and the 4 calendar quarters of 1945), and consequently would be

fully insured and entitled to the benefits claimed.

P's Army retirement benefit is based in part on his active military

service during World War II within the purview of the limitation on the

granting of social security credit for such service contained in section

217(a)(1). The prohibition applies, under Social Security Administration

Regulations § 404.1310(c), "if any part of the veteran's active

service during the World War II period has been credited toward another

'Federal benefit'." (Emphasis supplied.) See Moncrief v. Folsom ,

233 F.2d 471 (4th Cir., 1956). It follows, pursuant to the law and

regulations, that P cannot be credited with military service wage credits

for any part of his active service during World War II.

Accordingly, it is held that since military service wage credits

must be denied P, he is not fully insured and therefore is not entitled to

old-age insurance benefits.