Social Security: The Basics
What is it?
Social Security is a federal system of programs designed to protect individuals and families against economic hardship. Most Americans work in occupations covered by the Social Security system, and they will at some point in their lives receive Social Security benefits. The system is administered by the Social Security Administration and financed mainly by Social Security tax (FICA) withholding on wages and by taxes on self-employment income.
How does it work?
Social Security is a compulsory system
Social Security is a compulsory system. Employers, employees, and self-employed individuals are required to participate and pay taxes that finance Social Security benefits. As an employee, you pay a Social Security tax of 6.2 percent of your pay (matched by your employer) each pay period and you pay a Medicare tax of 1.45 percent of your pay (matched by your employer). If you are self-employed, you pay a 12.4 percent self-employment tax on your earnings to finance Social Security programs and you pay a 2.9 percent tax to finance Medicare.
The Social Security tax on your earnings applies only to earnings under the maximum earnings limit ($128,400 in 2018). No limit applies, however, to the Medicare tax on your earnings.
Your earnings are tracked by the Social Security Administration
Your employer reports your annual Social Security earnings to the Social Security Administration. If you are self-employed, the IRS reports your earnings. They are compiled on a record known as a Social Security earnings record, which is identified by your nine-digit Social Security number. This earnings record is eventually used to calculate the amount of your Social Security benefit.
You receive benefits after meeting certain eligibility criteria
To be eligible to receive Social Security benefits, you must be insured under the system. To become insured, you have to work for a certain amount of time in an occupation covered under Social Security or be the spouse, ex-spouse, widow or widower, or parent of someone who has. You also have to meet the eligibility requirements specific to the benefit.
Social Security benefits
Retirement benefits
Providing retirement benefits was a key provision of the Social Security Act of 1935. Older Americans were especially financially vulnerable during the Great Depression, and Social Security was enacted partly to provide them with some continuing income after retirement. Today, although the scope of the program has been widened through amendments to include survivor, disability, and medical insurance benefits, Social Security remains synonymous with retirement benefits.
When planning for retirement, you should neither overlook nor overstate the value of your Social Security benefits. Predicting the future of Social Security is difficult because to keep the system solvent, some changes must be made to it. The younger and wealthier you are, the more likely that these changes will affect you. But even if you retire in the next few years, remember that Social Security was never meant to be the sole source of income for retirees. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower said: "The system is not intended as a substitute for private savings, pension plans, and insurance protection. It is, rather, intended as the foundation upon which these other forms of protection can be soundly built."
Normal (full) retirement age is the age at which you can retire and receive full (unreduced) Social Security benefits. However, many people choose to receive Social Security retirement benefits early at age 62 (early retirement age). You can also retire and begin receiving benefits after full retirement age. If so, you are considered to be electing delayed retirement benefits. Electing early retirement benefits means that you will receive a reduced benefit, while electing delayed retirement benefits means that you will receive a delayed retirement credit and thus a higher benefit.
Disability benefits
Most people don't expect to become disabled and are unprepared when they are unable to work due to illness or injury. The fact is that you are much more likely to become disabled than to die during your earning years. Because eligibility standards are strict, Social Security disability benefits may not offer the comprehensive protection you need. However, these benefits can help protect you and your family from financial devastation when you can't work for a year or more. In general, to receive Social Security disability benefits, you must be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to last for at least 12 months or result in your death.
Benefits for family members
Some of your family members may be eligible for benefits based on your earnings record if you are receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. Benefits are generally paid to family members who relied upon your income for support. Benefits paid to family members are based upon your primary insurance amount (PIA) and are paid in addition to the benefit you receive. The following chart outlines who these family members might be, what benefits they may be entitled to receive, and the basic conditions they must meet to be eligible for those benefits:
| Beneficiary | Minimum Age | Insured Status | Conditions | Amount of Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of retired worker | 62 or earlier if caring for a dependent child (under16 or disabled) who is eligible for child's benefits | Worker must be fully insured. Spouse does not haveto be insured | Worker must be receiving retirement benefits beforespouse is eligible | 50% of the worker's PIA, subject to early retirementreduction, if applicable |
| Divorced spouse of worker | 62 or earlier if caring for a dependent child (under16 or disabled) who is eligible for child's benefits | Marriage must have lasted at least ten years beforefinal divorce date. Remarriage may affect benefit | Worker does not have to be receiving retirementbenefits but must be 62 or older | Usually 50% of the worker's PIA, subject to earlyretirement reduction, if applicable |
| Child of retired worker | No minimum age but must be under 18 or under 19 (inschool). Disabled child can be over 18 if disability began before 22 | Worker must be fully insured | Worker must be receiving retirement benefits beforechild is eligible. Child in school must be a full-time student and unmarried | Each child receives 50% of worker's PIA. Familymaximum, however, may limit this benefit |
Family benefits end when the retired worker dies. However, at that time, family members may be eligible to receive Social Security survivor benefits.
Survivor benefits
If you die and you were currently or fully insured under Social Security, your surviving spouse, ex-spouse, children, or dependent parents may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits based on your earnings record. The following chart outlines those who may be eligible for benefits and under what conditions.
| Beneficiary | Age | Insured Status of Worker | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of worker (no dependent child) | 60 or over (or if disabled, 50 or over) | Fully insured | Must have been married to the worker for nine monthsbefore worker died (unless death was accidental or military-related) or beparent of worker's natural or adopted child |
| Spouse of worker with dependent child | Any age | Fully or currently insured | Must be unmarried and not already eligible forwidow(er)'s benefits |
| Divorced spouse of worker (no dependent child) | Age 60 or over (if disabled, age 50-59) | Fully insured | Must have been married to the worker for at leastten years |
| Divorced spouse of worker with dependent child | Any age | Fully or currently insured | Must be unmarried and not already eligible forwidow(ER)'s benefits as a divorced spouse |
| Dependent child of worker | Age 18 or under, or 19 if full-time elementary orsecondary school student. If child is disabled, can be over 18 if disabilitybegan before age 22 | Fully or currently insured | Must be unmarried |
| Dependent parent(s) of worker | Age 62 or above | Fully insured | 50% or more of the parent's support must have beenfurnished by worker |
How much will you receive from Social Security?
The amount of Social Security benefit you receive is based on your Social Security earnings record. Your earnings are averaged according to a formula and then indexed. The resulting figure is called your primary insurance amount (PIA). Once your PIA has been calculated, all your benefits (and those of your family members who are dependent upon your Social Security record) will be based on this figure. Your PIA is the maximum benefit that you could receive once you become eligible.
Your maximum benefit may be payable if:
- You retire at full retirement age
- Your widow or widower is full retirement age
- You are disabled
In other circumstances, the benefits that you receive will be a certain percentage of your maximum benefit. For example, if you retire early, your maximum benefit will be reduced by a certain percentage for each month of early retirement. If you or your family members are eligible for reduced benefits, the reduction will be expressed as a percentage of your PIA.
Mr. Jones retired at his full retirement age after working for many years. His PIA is determined to be $1,176. He will receive the maximum retirement benefit (100 percent of his PIA) so his monthly benefit check will be $1,176. His wife also plans on retiring when she reaches her full retirement age. Since her own PIA is less, when she retires she will be entitled to 50 percent of his PIA, so her monthly benefit check will be $588.
The following chart summarizes the relationship between your PIA and your eventual benefits:
| Benefit | Requirements | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement | Full retirement age | 100% of PIA |
| 62 or above, but less than full retirement age | PIA reduced by 5/9 of 1% for each month under full retirement age, and by 5/12 of 1% thereafter | |
| Disability | None | 100% of PIA |
| Spouse's Benefit | Caring for dependent child | 50% of PIA |
| Full retirement age | 50% of PIA | |
| Age 62 or above, but less than full retirement age | 50% of PIA further reduced by 25/36 of 1% for each of the first 36 months under full retirement age, and by 5/12 of 1% thereafter | |
| Child's Benefit | Child of retired or disabled worker | 50% of PIA |
| Child of deceased worker | 75% of PIA | |
| Mother's or Father's Benefit | Child must be under 16 or disabled | 75% of PIA |
| Widow(er)'s Benefit | Full retirement age | 100% of PIA |
| Age 60 or above, but less than full retirement age | Reduced; 71½% of PIA or more | |
| Disabled Widow(er)'s Benefit | Starting at age 50-60 | 71½% of PIA |
| Parent's Benefit | One dependent parent; two dependent parents | 82½% of PIA; 75% of PIA (each) |
Getting the most from the Social Security system
To get the most out of Social Security, you have to make some decisions. Deciding when to retire and begin receiving benefits is important because the age at which you elect to begin receiving benefits can greatly affect your monthly benefit and your overall lifetime benefit. You'll also need to decide whether you want to work after you begin receiving benefits, and if so, determine how your wages will affect your benefit. Finally, if you are a business owner or a self-employed individual, you need to consider how you can minimize your Social Security payroll taxes.
Several benefit calculators are available on the Social Security website (ssa.gov) that can help you estimate your future retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. You can also visit the website to sign up for a my Social Security account that gives you access to your Social Security Statement. Your statement contains a detailed record of your earnings, as well as estimates of retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. If you're not registered for an online account and are not yet receiving benefits, you'll receive a statement in the mail every year, starting at age 60. You may also call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 if you have questions.