Increase in Benefit Amounts

Increase in Benefit Amounts Sec. 102. (a) Subsection (a) of section 215 of the Social Security Act is amended to read as follows: “Primary Insurance Amount “(a) (1) The primary insurance amount of any individual (i) who does not become eligible for benefits under section 202 (a) until after August 1954, or who dies after such month and without becoming eligible for benefits under such section 202 (a), and (ii) with respect to whom not less than six of the quarters elapsing after 1950 are quarters of coverage, and the primary insurance amount of any individual with respect to whom not less than six of the quarters elapsing after June 30, 1953, are quarters of coverage, shall be whichever of the following amounts is the larger: “(A) Fifty-five per centum of the first $110 of his average monthly wage, plus 20 per centum of the next $240; or “(B) The amount determined under subsection (c). An individual shall, for purposes of this paragraph, be deemed eligible for benefits under section 202 (a) for any month if he was or would have been, upon filing application therefor in such month, entitled to such benefits for such month. “(2) The primary insurance amount of any other individual shall be the amount determined under subsection (c).” (b) (1) Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (b) of such section are amended to read as follows: “(1) An individual’s ‘average monthly wage’ shall be the quotient obtained by dividing the total of his wages and self-employment income after his starting date (determined under paragraph (2)) and prior to his closing date (determined under paragraph (3)), by the 68 Stat. 1063number of months elapsing after such starting date and prior to such closing date, excluding from such elapsed months any month in any year prior to the year in which he attained the age of twenty-two if less than two quarters of such prior year were quarters of coverage, except that when the number of such elapsed months thus computed (including a computation after the application of paragraph (4)) is less than eighteen, it shall be increased to eighteen. “(2) An individual’s ‘starting date’ shall be— “(A) December 31, 1950, or “(B) if later, the last day of the year in which he attains the age of twenty-one, whichever results in the higher primary insurance amount. “(3) An individual’s ‘closing date’ shall be whichever of the following results in the higher primary insurance amount: “(A) the first day of the year in which he died or became entitled to old-age insurance benefits, whichever first occurred; or “(B) the first day of the first year in which he both was fully insured and had attained retirement age; except that if the Secretary determines, on the basis of the evidence available to him at the time of the computation of the individual’s primary insurance amount with respect to which such closing date is applicable, that it would result in a higher primary insurance amount for such individual, his closing date shall be the first day of the year following the year referred to in subparagraph (A).” (2) Paragraph (4) of such subsection (b) is amended to read as follows: “(4) In the case of any individual, the Secretary shall determine the four or fewer full calendar years after his starting date and prior to his closing date which, if the months of such years and his wages and self-employment income for such years were excluded in computing his average monthly wage, would produce the highest primary insurance amount. Such months and such wages and self-employment income shall be excluded for purposes of computing such individual’s average monthly wage. The maximum number of calendar years determined under the first sentence of this paragraph shall be five instead of four in the case of any individual who has not less than twenty quarters of coverage.” (c) Subsection (c) of such section is amended to read as follows: “Determinations Made by Use of the Conversion Table “(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the amount referred to in paragraphs (1) (B) and (2) of subsection (a) for an individual shall be either the amount appearing in column III of the following table on the line on which in column I appears his primary insurance benefit (as determined under subsection (d)), or the amount appearing in column III of the following table on the line on which in column II appeal’s his primary insurance amount (determined as provided in subsection (d)), whichever produces the higher amount; and his average monthly wage shall, for purposes of 68 Stat. 1064section 203 (a), be the amount appearing in column IV on the line on which, in column III, appears such higher amount. “I II III IV ‘If the primary insurance benefit (as determined under subsection (d)) is— Or the primary insurance amount (as determined under subsection (d)) is— The amount referred to in paragraphs (1) (B) and (2) of subsection (a) shall be— And the average monthly wage for purposes of computing maximum benefits shall be— $10 $25.00 $30.00 $55.00 $11 27.00 32.00 58.00 $12 29.00 34.00 62.00 $13 31.00 36.00 65.00 $14 33.00 38 00 69.00 $15 35.00 40.00 73.00 $16 36.70 41.70 76.00 $17 38.20 43.20 79.00 $18 39.50 44.50 81.00 $19 40.70 45.70 83.00 $20 42.00 47.00 85.00 $21 43.50 48.50 88.00 $22 45.30 50.30 91.00 $23 47.50 52.50 95.00 $24 50.10 55.10 100.00 $25 52.40 57.40 104.00 $26 54.40 59.40 108.00 $27 56.30 61.30 114.00 $28 58.00 63.00 123.00 $29 59.40 64.40 130.00 $30 60.80 66.30 139.00 $31 62.00 67.90 147.00 $32 63.30 69.50 155.00 $33 64.40 71.10 163.00 $34 65.50 72.50 170.00 $35 66.60 73.90 177.00 $36 67.80 75.50 185.00 $37 68.90 77.10 193.00 $38 70.00 78.50 200.00 $39 71.00 79.90 207.00 $40 72.00 81.10 213.00 $41 73.10 82.70 221.00 $42 74.10 83.90 227.00 $43 75.10 85.30 234.00 $44 76.10 86.70 241.00 $45 77.10 88.50 250.00 $46 77.10 88.50 250.00 77.20 88.50 250.00 77.30 88.50 250.00 77.40 88.50 250.00 77.50 88.50 250.00 78.00 89.10 253.00 79.00 90.50 260.00 80.10 91.90 267.00 81.00 93.10 273.00 82.00 94.50 280.00 83.10 95.90 287.00 84.00 97.10 293.00 85.00 98.50 300.00 “(2) (A) In case the primary insurance benefit (determined as provided in subsection (d)) of an individual falls between the amounts on any two consecutive lines in column I of the table, the amount referred to in paragraphs (1) (b) and (2) of subsection (a) for such individual shall be the amount determined (i) by applying the formula in subsection (a) (1) to the average monthly wage which would be determined for such individual under paragraph (4) of this subsection as in effect prior to the enactment of the Social Security Amendments of 1954, (ii) by increasing the amount determined under clause (i), if it is not a multiple of $0.10, to the next higher multiple of $0.10, and (iii) by further increasing such amount to the extent, if any, it is less than $5 greater than the primary insurance amount which would be determined for him by use of his primary insurance benefit under paragraph (2) of this subsection as in effect prior to the enactment of the Social Security Amendments of 1954. “(b) In case the primary insurance amount (determined under subsection (d)) of an individual falls between the amounts on any two consecutive lines in column II of the table, the amount referred to in paragraphs (1) (B) and (2) of subsection (a) for such individual 68 Stat. 1065shall be the amount determined under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for an individual whose primary insurance benefit would (under paragraph (2) of this subsection as in effect prior to the enactment of the Social Security Amendments of 1954) produce such primary insurance amount: except that, if there is no primary insurance benefit which would (under such paragraph (2)) produce such primary insurance amount or if such primary insurance amount is higher than $77.10, the amount referred to in paragraphs (1) (B) and (2) of subsection (a) for such individual shall be the amount determined (i) by applying the formula in subsection (a) (1) to the average monthly wage from which such primary insurance amount was determined, (ii) by increasing the amount determined under clause (i), if it is not a multiple of $0.10, to the next higher multiple of $0.10, and (iii) by further increasing such amount to the extent, if any, it is less than $5 greater than such primary insurance amount. “(C) If the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph are both applicable to an individual, the amount referred to in paragraphs (1) (B) and (2) of subsection (a) for such individual shall be the larger of the amounts determined under such subparagraphs. “(3) For the purpose of facilitating the use of the conversion table in computing any insurance benefit under section 202, the Secretary is authorized to assume that the primary insurance benefit from which such benefit under section 202 is determined is one cent or two cents more or less than its actual amount. “(4) For purposes of section 203 (a), the average monthly wage of an individual whose primary insurance amount is determined under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be a sum equal to the average monthly wage which would result in such primary insurance amount upon the application of the provisions of subsection (a) (1) (A) of this section and without the application of subsection (e) (2) or (g) of this section; except that, if such sum is not a multiple of $1, it shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1 (or to the next higher multiple of $1 if it is a multiple of $0.50).” (d) (1) The heading of subsection (d) of such section is amended to read “Primary Insurance Benefit and Primary Insurance Amount For Purposes of Conversion Table”. (2) So much of such subsection (d) as precedes paragraph (1) thereof is amended by inserting “and the primary insurance amounts” after “primary insurance benefits”. (3) So much of paragraph (4) of such subsection (d) as precedes subparagraph (A) is amended by inserting “(except an individual who attained age twenty-two after 1950 and with respect to whom not less than six of the quarters elapsing after 1950 are quarters of coverage)” after “individual”. (4) Such subsection (d) is amended by adding after paragraph (5), added by section 106 of this Act, the following new paragraph: “(6) The primary insurance amount of any individual shall be computed as provided in this section as in effect prior to the enactment of this paragraph, except that the amendments made by sections 102 (b) (other than paragraph (2) thereof), 104, and 106 of the Social Security Amendments of 1954 (relating, respectively, to increase in benefit amounts, increase in earnings counted, and periods of disability) shall, to the extent provided by such sections, be applicable to such computation.” (e) (1) Section 215 (e) of such Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (1), by changing the period at the end of paragraph (2) to a semicolon, and by adding after such paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: 68 Stat. 1066 “(3) if an individual’s closing date is determined under paragraph (3) (A) of subsection (b) and he has self-employment income in a taxable year which begins prior to such closing date and ends after the last day of the month preceding the month in which he becomes entitled to old-age insurance benefits, there shall not be counted, in determining his average monthly wage, his self-employment income in such taxable year, except as provided in section 215 (f) (3) (C); and”. (2) Section 215 (f) (2) of such Act is amended to read as follows: “(2) (A) Upon application filed after 1954 by an individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits, the Secretary shall recompute his primary insurance amount if— “(i) he has not less than six quarters of coverage in the period after 1950 and prior to the quarter in which such application is filed, “(ii) he has wages and self-employment income of more than $1,200 in a calendar year which occurs after 1953 (not taking into account any year prior to the calendar year in which the last previous recomputation, if any, of his primary insurance amount was effective) and after the year in which he became (without the application of section 202 (j) (1)) entitled to old-age insurance benefits or filed an application for recomputation (to which he is entitled) under section 102 (e) (5) (B) or 102 (f) (2) (B) of the Social Security Amendments of 1954, whichever of such events is the latest, and “(iii) he filed such application no earlier than six months after such calendar year referred to in clause (ii) in which he had such wages and self-employment income. Such recomputation shall be effective for and after the twelfth month before the month in which he filed such application for recomputation but in no event earlier than the month following such calendar year referred to in clause (ii). For the purposes of this subparagraph an individual’s self-employment income shall be allocated to calendar quarters in accordance with section 212. “(B) A recomputation pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be made as provided in subsection (a) of this section and as though the individual first became entitled to old-age insurance benefits in the month in which he filed the application for such recomputation, but only if the provisions of subsection (b) (4) were not applicable to the last previous computation of his primary insurance amount. If the provisions of subsection (b) (4) were applicable to such previous computation, the recomputation under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be made only as provided in subsection (a) (1) (other than subparagraph (B) thereof) and for such purposes his average monthly wage shall be determined as though he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits in the month in which he filed the application for recomputation under subparagraph (A), except that, of the provisions of paragraph (3) of subsection (b). only the provisions of subparagraph (A) thereof shall be applicable.” (3) (A) Section 215 (f) (3) of such Act is amended to read as follows: “(3) (A) Upon application by an individual— “(i) who became (without the application of section 202 (j) (1)) entitled to old-age insurance benefits under section 202 (a) after August 1954, or “(ii) whose primary insurance amount was recomputed under section 102 (e) (5) or 102 (f) (2) (B) of the Social Security Amendments of 1954, or 68 Stat. 1067 “(iii) whose primary insurance amount was recomputed as provided in the first sentence of paragraph (2) (B) of this subsection on the basis of an application filed after August, 1954, the Secretary shall recompute his primary insurance amount if such application is filed after the year in which he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits or in which he filed his application for the last recomputation (to which he was entitled) of his primary insurance amount under any provision of law referred to in clause (ii) or (iii) of this sentence, whichever is the later. Such recomputation under this subparagraph shall be made in the manner provided in the preceding subsections of this section for computation of his primary insurance amount, except that his closing date for purposes of subsection (b) shall be the first day of the year following the year in which he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits or in which he filed his application for the last recomputation (to which he was entitled) of his primary insurance amount under any provision of law referred to in clause (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence, whichever is the later. Such recomputation under this subparagraph shall be effective for and after the first month for which his last previous computation of his primary insurance amount was effective, but in no event for any month prior to the twenty-fourth month before the month in which the application for such recomputation is filed. “(B) In the case of an individual who dies after August 1954— “(i) who, at the time of death, was not entitled to old-age insurance benefits under section 202 (a), or who became entitled to old-age insurance benefits under section 202 (a) after August 1954, or whose primary insurance amount was recomputed under paragraph (2) or (4) of this subsection, or section 102 (e) (5) or section 102 (f) (2) (B) of the Social Security Amendments of 1954, on the basis of an application filed after August 1954; and “(ii) with respect to whom the last previous computation or recomputation of his primary insurance amount was based upon a closing date determined under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b) (3) of this section, the Secretary shall recompute his primary insurance amount upon the filing of an application by a person entitled to monthly benefits or a lump-sum death payment on the basis of his wages and self-employment income. Such recomputation shall be made in the manner provided in the preceding subsections of this section for computation of such amount, except that his closing date for purposes of subsection (b) shall be the day following the year of death in case he died without becoming entitled to old-age insurance benefits, or, in case he was entitled to old-age insurance benefits, the day following the year in which was filed the application for the last previous computation of his primary insurance amount or in which the individual died, whichever first occurred. In the case of monthly benefits, such recomputation shall be effective for and after the month in which the person entitled to such monthly benefits became so entitled, but in no event for any month prior to the twenty-fourth month before the month in which the application for such recomputation is filed.” (B) Such section 215 (f) (3) is further amended by adding after subparagraph (B) (added by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) the following new subparagraph: “(C) If an individual’s closing date is determined under paragraph (3) (A) of subsection (b) of this section and he has self-employment income in a taxable year which begins prior to such closing date and ends after the last day of the month preceding the month in which he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits, the Secretary shall recompute his primary insurance amount after the close of such taxable year, 68 Stat. 1068taking into account only such self-employment income in such taxable year as is, pursuant to section 212, allocated to calendar quarters prior to such closing date. Such recomputation shall be effective for and after the first month in which he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits.” (4) Section 215 (f) (4) of such Act is amended to read as follows: “(4) Upon the death after 1954 of an individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits, if any person is entitled to monthly benefits, or to a lump-sum death payment, on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such individual, the Secretary shall recompute the decedent’s primary insurance amount, but only if— “(A) the decedent would have been entitled to a recomputation under paragraph (2) (A) (without the application of clause (iii) thereof) if he had filed application therefor in the month in which he died; or “(B) the decedent during his lifetime was paid compensation which was treated under section 205 (o) as remuneration for employment. If the recomputation is permitted by subparagraph (A) the recomputation shall be made (if at all) as though he had filed application for a recomputation under paragraph (2) (A) in the month in which he died, except that such recomputation shall include any compensation (described in section 205 (o)) paid to him prior to the closing date which would have been applicable under such paragraph. If recomputation is permitted by subparagraph (B) the recomputation shall take into account only the wages and self-employment income which were taken into account in the last previous computation of his primary insurance amount and the compensation (described in section 205 (o)) paid to him prior to the closing date applicable to such computation. If both of the preceding sentences are applicable to an individual, only the recomputation which results in the larger primary insurance amount shall be made.” (5) (A) In the case of any individual who, upon filing application therefor before September 1954, would (but for the provisions of section 215 (f) (6) of the Social Security Act) have been entitled to a recomputation under subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 215 (f) (2) of such Act as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall recompute such individual’s primary insurance amount, but only if he files an application therefor or, in case he died before filing such application, an application for monthly benefits or a lump-sum death payment on the basis of his wages and self-employment income is filed. Such recomputation shall be made only as provided in subsection (a) (2) of section 215 of the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act, through the use of a primary insurance amount determined under subsection (d) (6) of such section in the same manner as for an individual to whom subsection (a) (1) of such section, as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act, is applicable; and such recomputation shall take into account only such wages and self-employment income as would be taken into account under section 215 (b) of the Social Security Act if the month in which the application for recomputation is filed, or if the individual died without filing the application for recomputation, the month in which he died, were deemed to be the month in which he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits. In the case of monthly benefits, such recomputation shall be effective for and after the month in which such application for recomputation is filed or, if the individual has died without filing the application, for and after the month in which the person filing the application for monthly survivor benefits becomes entitled to such benefits. 68 Stat. 1069 (B) In the case of— (i) any individual who is entitled to a recomputation under subparagraph (A) of section 215 (f) (2) of the Social Security Act as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act on the basis of an application filed after August 1954, or who died after such month leaving any survivors entitled to a recomputation under section 215 (f) (4) of the Social Security Act as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act on the basis of his wages and self-employment income, and whose sixth quarter of coverage after 1950 was acquired after August 1954 or with respect to whom the twelfth month referred to in such subparagraph (A) occurred after such month, and (ii) any individual who is entitled to a recomputation under section 215 (f) (2) (B) of the Social Security Act as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act on the basis of an application filed after August 1954, or who died after August 1954 leaving any survivors entitled to a recomputation under section 215 (f) (4) of the Social Security Act as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act on the basis of his wages and self-employment income, and whose sixth quarter of coverage after 1950 was acquired after August 1954 or who did not attain the age of seventy-five prior to September 1954, the recomputation of his primary insurance amount shall be made in the manner provided in section 215 of the Social Security Act. as amended by this Act, for computation of such amount, except that his closing date, for purposes of subsection (b) of such section 215, shall be determined as though he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits in the month in which he filed such application for or, if he has died, in the month in which he died. In the case of monthly benefits, such recomputation shall be effective for and after the month in which such application for recomputation is filed or. if the individual has died without filing the application, for and after the month in which the person filing the application for monthly survivors benefits becomes entitled to such benefits. (C) An individual or, in case of his death, his survivors entitled to a lump-sum death payment or to monthly benefits under section 202 of the Social Security Act on the basis of his wages and self-employment income shall be entitled to a recomputation of his primary insurance amount under section 215 (f) (2) or section 215 (f) (4) of the Social Security Act as in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act only if (i) he had not less than six quarters of coverage in the period after 1950 and prior to January 1, 1955, and (ii) either the twelfth month referred to in subparagraph (A) of such section 215 (f) (2) occurred prior to January 1, 1955, or he attained the age of 75 prior to 1955, and (iii) he meets the other conditions of entitlement to such a recomputation. No individual shall be entitled to a recomputation under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph if his primary insurance amount has previously been recomputed under either of such subparagraphs. (6) In the case of an individual who died or became (without the application of section 202 (j) (1) of the Social Security Act) entitled to old-age insurance benefits in 1956 and with respect to whom not less than six of the quarters elapsing after 1954 and prior to the quarter following the quarter in which he died or became entitled to old-age insurance benefits, whichever first occurred, are quarters of coverage, his primary insurance amount shall be computed under section 215 (a) (1) (A) of such Act, as amended by this Act, with a starting date of December 31, 1954, and a closing date of July 1, 1956, but only if it would result in a higher primary insurance amount. For 68 Stat. 1070the purposes of section 215 (f) (3) (C) of such Act, the determination of an individual’s closing date under the preceding sentence shall be considered as a determination of the individual’s closing date under section 215 (b) (3) (A) of such Act, and the recomputation provided for by such section 215 (f) (3) (C) shall be made using July 1, 1956, as the closing date, but only if it would result in a higher primary insurance amount. In any such computation on the basis of a July 1, 1956 closing date, the total of his wages and self-employment income after December 31, 1955, shall, if it is in excess of $2,100, be reduced to such amount. (7) Section 203 (a) of such Act is amended to read as follows: “(a) Whenever the total of monthly benefits to which individuals are entitled under section 202 for a month on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of an insured individual is more than $50 and exceeds (1) 80 per centum of his average monthly wage, or (2) one and one-half times his primary insurance amount, whichever is the greater, such total of benefits shall, after any deductions under this section, be reduced to 80 per centum of his average monthly wage or to one and one-half times his primary insurance amount, whichever is the greater, but in no case to less than $50; except that when any of such individuals so entitled would (but for the provisions of section 202 (k) (2) (A)) be entitled to child’s insurance benefits on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of one or more other insured individuals, such total of benefits, after any deductions under this section, shall not be reduced to less than 80 per centum of the sum of the average monthly wages of all such insured individuals. In any case in which the total of the benefits referred to in the preceding sentence, after reduction (if any) thereunder, is more than $200, such total shall, notwithstanding the provisions of such sentence, be reduced to $200. Whenever a reduction is made under this subsection, each benefit, except the old-age insurance benefit, shall be proportionately decreased.” (8) In the case of an individual who became (without the application of section 202 (j) (1)) entitled to old-age insurance benefits or died prior to September 1954, the provisions of section 215 (f) (3) as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act shall be applicable as though this Act had not been enacted. (f) (1) The amendments made by the preceding subsections, other than subsection (b) and paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (e), shall (subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) and notwithstanding the provisions of section 215 (f) (1) of the Social Security Act) apply in the case of lump-sum death payments under section 202 of such Act with respect to deaths occurring after, and in the case of monthly benefits under such section for months after, August 1954. (2) (A) The amendment made by subsection (b) (2) shall be applicable only in the case of monthly benefits for months after August 1954, and the lump-sum death payment in the case of death after August 1954, based on the wages and self-employment income of an individual (i) who does not become eligible for benefits under section 202 (a) of the Social Security Act until after August 1954, or (ii) who dies after August 1954. and without becoming eligible for benefits under such section 202 (a), or (iii) who is or has been entitled to have his primary insurance amount recomputed under section 215 (f) (2) of the Social Security Act, as amended by subsection (e) (2) of this section, or under subsection (e) (5) (B) of this section, or (iv) with respect to whom not less than six of the quarters elapsing after June 1953 are quarters of coverage (as defined in such Act), or (v) who files an application for a disability determination which is 68 Stat. 1071accepted as an application for purposes of section 216 (i) of such Act, or (vi) who dies after August 1954, and whose survivors are (or would, but for the provisions of section 215 (f) (6) of such Act, be) entitled to a recomputation of his primary insurance amount under section 215 (f) (4) (A) of such Act, as amended by this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence an individual shall be deemed eligible for benefits under section 202 (a) of the Social Security Act for any month if he was, or would upon filing application therefor in such month have been, entitled to such benefits for such month. (B) In the case of any individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits under section 202 (a) of the Social Security Act who was or, upon filing application therefor, would have been entitled to such benefits for August 1954, to whom subparagraph (A) is inapplicable, and with respect to whom not less than six of the quarters elapsing after June 30, 1953, are quarters of coverage, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall, notwithstanding the provisions of section 215 (f) (1) of the Social Security Act, recompute the primary insurance amount of such individual but only upon the filing of an application, after August 1954, by him or, if he dies without filing such an application, by any person entitled to monthly survivors benefits under section 202 of such Act on the basis of such individual’s wages and self-employment income. Such recomputation shall be made in the manner provided in section 215 of the Social Security Act for computation of such individual’s primary insurance amount, except that the provisions of subsection (f) of such section (other than paragraph (3) (C) thereof) shall not be applicable for purposes of such computation, and except that his closing date, for purposes of subsection (b) of such section, shall be determined as though he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits in the month in which he filed such application for recomputation or, if he died without filing such application, the month in which he died. Such recomputation shall be effective (i) if the application is filed by such individual, for and after the twelfth month before the bond in which the application therefor was filed by such individual but in no case before the first month of the quarter which is such individual’s sixth quarter of coverage acquired after June 30, 1953, or (ii) if such application was filed by a person entitled to monthly survivors benefits under section 202 of the Social Security Act on the basis of such individual’s wages and self-employment income, for and after the first month for which such person was entitled to such survivors benefits. No such recomputation of an individual’s primary insurance amount shall he effective unless it results in a higher primary insurance amount for him; nor shall any such recomputation of an individual’s primary insurance amount be effective if such amount has previously been recomputed under this subsection. (3) The amendments made by subsections (b) (1), (e) (1), and (e) (3) (B) shall be applicable only in the case of monthly benefits based on the wages and self-employment income of an individual who does not become entitled to old-age insurance benefits under section 202 (a) of the Social Security Act until after August 1954, or who dies after August 1954 without becoming entitled to such benefits, or who files an application after August 1954 and is entitled to a recomputation under paragraph (2) or (4) of section 215 (f) of the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act, or who is entitled to a recomputation under paragraph (2) (B) of this subsection, or who is entitled to a recomputation under paragraph (5) of subsection (e). (4) The amendments made by subsection (e) (2) shall be applicable only in the case of applications for recomputation filed after 1954. The amendment made by subsection (e) (4) shall be applicable only in the case of deaths after 1954. 68 Stat. 1072 (5) The amendments made by subparagraph (A) of subsection (e) (3) shall be applicable only in the case of applications for recomputation filed, or deaths occurring, after August 1954. (6) No increase in any benefit by reason of the amendments made by this section (other than subsection (e)) or by reason of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be regarded as a recomputation for purposes of section 215 (f) of the Social Security Act. (g) Effective September 1, 1954, section 2 (c) (2) (B) of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1952 is amended to read as follows: “(B) The provisions of subparagraph (A) shall cease to apply to the benefit of any individual under title II of the Social Security Act for any month after August 1954.” (h) (1) Where— (A) an individual was entitled (without the application of section 202 (j) (1) of the Social Security Act) to an old-age insurance benefit under title II of such Act for August 1954; (B) one or more other persons were entitled (without the application of such section 202 (j) (1)) to monthly benefits under such title for such month on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such individual; and (C) the total of the benefits to which all persons are entitled under such title on the basis of such individual’s wages and self-employment income for any subsequent month for which he is entitled to an old-age insurance benefit under such title, would (but for the provisions of this paragraph) be reduced by reason of the application of section 203 (a) of the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act, then the total of benefits referred to in clause (C) for such subsequent month shall be reduced to whichever of the following is the larger— (D) the amount determined pursuant to section 203 (a) of the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act; or (E) the amount determined pursuant to such section, as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act, for August 1954 plus the excess of (i) the amount of his old-age insurance benefit for such month computed as if the amendments made by the preceding subsections of this section had been applicable in the case of such benefit for such month over (ii) the amount of his old-age insurance benefit for such month, or (F) the amount determined pursuant to section 2 (d) (1) of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1952 for August 1954 plus the excess of (i) the amount of his old-age insurance benefit for such month computed as if the amendments made by the preceding subsections of this section had been applicable in the case of such benefit for such month over (ii) the amount of his old-age insurance benefit for such month. (2) Where— (A) two or more persons were entitled (without the application of section 202 (j) (1) of the Social Security Act) to monthly benefits under title II of such Act for August 1954 on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of a deceased individual; and (B) the total of the benefits to which all such persons are entitled on the basis of such deceased individual’s wages and self-employment income for any subsequent month would (but for the provisions of this paragraph) be reduced by reason of the application of the first sentence of section 203 (a) of the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act, then, notwithstanding any other provision in title II of the Social Security Act, such deceased individual’s average monthly wage shall, 68 Stat. 1073for purposes of such section 203 (a), be whichever of the following is the larger: (C) his average monthly wage determined pursuant to section 215 of such Act, as amended by this Act; or (D) his average monthly wage determined under such section 215, as in effect prior to the enactment of this Act, plus $7. (i) (1) Section 202 of such Act is amended by inserting after subsection (1) the following new subsection: “Minimum Survivor’s or Dependent’s Benefit “(m) In any case in which the benefit of any individual for any month under this section (other than subsection (a)) is, prior to reduction under subsection (k) (3), less than $30 and no other individual is (without the application of section 202 (j) (1)) entitled to a benefit under this section for such month on the basis of the same wages and self-employment income, such benefit for such month shall, prior to reduction under such subsection (k) (3), be increased to $30.” (2) The first sentence of subsection (i) of such section 202 is amended by inserting “, or an amount equal to $255, whichever is the smaller” after “primary insurance amount”.