Ida May Fuller
Encyclopedia
Ida May Fuller was the first American
to receive a monthly benefit Social Security
check. She received the check, amounting to $22.54, on January 31, 1940.
Fuller was born on a farm outside Ludlow, Vermont
. She spent most of her life in Ludlow, working as a legal secretary, but lived with her niece in Brattleboro, Vermont
, during her last eight years. She retired in 1939, having paid just three years of payroll tax
es. She received monthly Social Security checks until her death in 1975 at age 100. By the time of her death, Fuller had collected $22,888.92 from Social Security monthly benefits, compared to her contributions of $24.75 to the system. Notice that she only paid a mere nine quarters in the system and was eligible for a Social Security pension. Since then, recipients must earn 40 quarters (10 years) to be eligible.
She later said about going to the Social Security office, "It wasn't that I expected anything, mind you, but I knew I'd been paying for something called Social Security and I wanted to ask the people in Rutland about it.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to receive a monthly benefit Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
check. She received the check, amounting to $22.54, on January 31, 1940.
Fuller was born on a farm outside Ludlow, Vermont
Ludlow, Vermont
Ludlow, Vermont may refer to:*Ludlow , Vermont*Ludlow , Vermont...
. She spent most of her life in Ludlow, working as a legal secretary, but lived with her niece in Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
, during her last eight years. She retired in 1939, having paid just three years of payroll tax
Payroll tax
Payroll tax generally refers to two different kinds of similar taxes. The first kind is a tax that employers are required to withhold from employees' wages, also known as withholding tax, pay-as-you-earn tax , or pay-as-you-go tax...
es. She received monthly Social Security checks until her death in 1975 at age 100. By the time of her death, Fuller had collected $22,888.92 from Social Security monthly benefits, compared to her contributions of $24.75 to the system. Notice that she only paid a mere nine quarters in the system and was eligible for a Social Security pension. Since then, recipients must earn 40 quarters (10 years) to be eligible.
She later said about going to the Social Security office, "It wasn't that I expected anything, mind you, but I knew I'd been paying for something called Social Security and I wanted to ask the people in Rutland about it.
External links
- Ida May Fuller (accessed 2007-09-27)
- Details of Ida May Fuller's Payroll Tax Contributions (accessed 2007-09-27)