; (ii) managing finances; (iii) shopping for food, clothing, or other essential items; (iv) performing essential household chores; (v) communicating by phone or other form of media; and (vi) traveling around and participating in the community. (b) Deemed Wages of Caregiver (1) (A) For purposes of determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit for any month after December 2024, or entitlement to any lump-sum death payment in the case of a death after such month, payable under this title on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any individual, including for purposes of determining such individual’s insured status for purposes of sections 214, 216(i)(3), and 223(c), such individual shall be deemed to have been paid during each qualifying year (in addition to wages or self-employment income actually paid to or derived by such individual during such year) at an amount per year equal to— (i) in the case of a qualifying year during which no wages, self-employment income, or earnings from noncovered service were actually paid to or derived by such individual, 50 percent of the national average wage index (as defined in section 209(k)(1)) for the second calendar year preceding such calendar year