Social Security Administration
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Will I pay taxes on my SS spousal benefits with income under $25k? COLA questions too
Just got approved for my Social Security spousal benefits starting next month! Excited but confused about a few things the SSA pamphlets dont explain clearly: 1. TAXES: I'm retired, divorced, and my annual income is around $22,800. Will I have to pay taxes on these spousal benefits? I think the threshold is $25,000 for single filers but want to be sure. 2. COLA ADJUSTMENTS: How does the Cost of Living Adjustment work? Is it automatic or do I need to apply for it? And roughly what percentage increase should I expect for 2025? 3. MEDICARE DEDUCTIONS: Will my Medicare premium ($174.70/month) be automatically deducted from my SS benefit check, or do I need to set that up separately? 4. OTHER DEDUCTIONS: Are there any other surprise deductions I should be expecting that might reduce my benefit amount? I've called the SSA office 5 times and gotten different answers each time! Hoping someone here has actual experience with this. Thanks!
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Confused about WEP adjustment - Will Social Security automatically reduce my benefits after working in non-SS state systems?
Hey everyone, I'm losing sleep over this WEP situation and need some clarity. I worked for 22 years in the Florida public school system where they didn't take SS taxes (2001-2023), and I just moved to Colorado last year where I'm in their state retirement system that DOES contribute to SS. I've also got about 18 years of SS-covered work from various jobs before teaching. My question is: when I finally retire in a few years, will Social Security automatically reduce my SS benefits because of WEP, or do I need to proactively tell them about my Florida pension? I've heard horror stories about people getting huge overpayment notices years later because SSA didn't know about their non-covered pension. I'm trying to calculate what my retirement income will actually be, and the difference between WEP and non-WEP benefits is around $650 monthly according to my estimates. Any insights from people who've dealt with this cross-state pension/WEP situation?
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My friend didn't tell SS about her pension and they found out 3 years later and made her pay back over $30k!!!! She almost lost her house! DEFINITELY tell them upfront!!!
Oh my god, that's terrifying! I definitely don't want to end up in that situation. Did she have to pay it all back at once or were they able to set up some kind of payment plan?
To answer your follow-up question about when to contact them - you don't need to notify Social Security about your non-covered pension until you actually apply for SS benefits. Just make sure you're prepared with the right documentation when that time comes. Regarding your question about payment plans for overpayments - yes, SSA will generally work with you on a payment plan if you can't repay an overpayment all at once. They can withhold a percentage of your ongoing benefits until it's repaid, or you can set up monthly payments. But the real takeaway here is to be proactive and transparent from the beginning so you never face an overpayment situation. With proper planning, you can accurately estimate your WEP-adjusted benefit and avoid unpleasant surprises. One final note about WEP that many people don't realize: if your non-covered pension is relatively small, there's a provision that limits the WEP reduction to no more than 50% of your monthly pension amount. This doesn't apply to most teacher pensions (which tend to be substantial), but it's worth knowing in case your Florida pension ends up being on the smaller side.
Thank you all for the information! I just created an account on my.ssa.gov and downloaded my earnings record. Looks like I'll need to gather all my pension information and make sure I'm upfront when I apply. I think I'll try that Claimyr service too since I really need to speak with someone who understands all this WEP complexity.
Social Security strategy question for 65-year-old wife with terminal husband - collect own SS now and survivor later?
I'm helping my sister-in-law navigate a difficult situation with Social Security and need advice. She's turning 65 next month while her husband (71) is currently collecting about $3,100/month in SS benefits but has terminal cancer. His doctors are uncertain about his prognosis - could be months or years. Someone at her church mentioned she should immediately start collecting her own SS (about $670/month) rather than waiting. They called it "found money" that she'd lose forever if she doesn't claim now. If her husband passes before she reaches her FRA, I understand she'll face a choice: start survivor benefits immediately at a reduced rate OR wait until her FRA to get the full survivor amount. If this approach makes sense, it seems like she'd need to calculate: is it better to take reduced survivors benefits early or wait until FRA for the full $3,100? Obviously she'll visit the SSA office to confirm all of this, but I want to make sure I'm giving her good preliminary advice about how all these benefits work together. Does this strategy sound right?
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The SSA website is SO confusing about this!!! I spent hours trying to understand the rules for my mom. They seriously need to hire people who can explain things clearly!
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel much more confident in the advice I'm giving her now. I'll make sure she understands: 1. Take her own benefit now at 65 ($670/month) 2. If her husband passes before her FRA, decide whether to take reduced survivor benefits immediately or wait until FRA for the full amount 3. The decision will depend on her financial needs and the exact reduction amount The differentiation between FRA for retirement vs. survivor benefits is something I hadn't considered - I'll make sure she asks specifically about that at the SSA office. This has been incredibly helpful!
Can I get my husband's Social Security after he died if I only have a small state pension and no SS benefits?
My husband passed away 3 months ago, and I'm trying to figure out our financial situation now. He was getting about $2,350/month in Social Security retirement, which was our main income. I worked for our state's Department of Transportation for 22 years and receive a small pension of $875/month. I never paid into Social Security during my career (our state had its own retirement system), so I don't qualify for SS benefits on my own record. Someone mentioned the Government Pension Offset (GPO) might affect me, but I don't fully understand it. Can I receive any of my husband's Social Security benefits as his widow? Our savings won't last long with just my small pension. Any advice would be so appreciated.
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dont forget about the one-time death payment from ss too. its only $255 but better than nothing
Oh! I had no idea about that. Every bit helps right now. Thank you for mentioning it.
Thank you everyone for your helpful responses. I'm going to gather all my documents (death certificate, marriage certificate, pension statements, etc.) and apply for survivor benefits right away. It sounds like even with the GPO reduction, I should still receive a significant portion of my husband's benefit. I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service if I have trouble getting through to Social Security. It's such a relief to know I won't have to rely solely on my small pension.
Be sure to ask specifically about the Lump Sum Death Payment of $255 when you apply - sometimes they forget to process this automatically. Also, if your husband received benefits for the month he died but they came after his death date, you generally don't need to return that payment. Make sure to clarify this when you speak with them to avoid confusion later.
Will my company pension reduce my Social Security benefits at 62? WEP concerns
I'm retiring at the end of this month after turning 62 in November. Just got my Social Security statement and I'll be receiving around $2,331 monthly. I'll also be getting a company pension of about $2,300 per month. I've heard rumors about something called the Windfall Elimination Provision but I'm not sure if it applies to me. Will my SS benefits be reduced because I'm getting a pension? I worked at this company for 28 years but I also have about 18 years of work where I paid into Social Security from other jobs. Does anyone know if they're going to cut my Social Security check because of my pension? I'm trying to finalize my retirement budget and this is making me nervous!
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my uncle had his ss cut because of his state job pension! he was a teacher and didnt pay ss taxes so thats why. sounds like your fine if you paid ss taxes. govmnt rules are so confusing!!!!!
Since your case seems clear (no WEP because you paid Social Security taxes while earning your pension), the only other thing to check is if any portion of your 28 years at the company might have been exempt from Social Security taxes. Some companies switched plans during certain time periods. Might be worth checking your W-2s from those earliest years just to be 100% certain. But it sounds like you're fine!
That's a good suggestion. I'm almost positive I paid into SS the entire time, but I'll double-check those early W-2s just to be absolutely certain. Better to know now than be surprised later!
Jamal Brown
wait im confused... you said your single but getting spousal benefits? did you mean survivor benefits? or are you divorced? those are different things with ss
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Sofía Rodríguez
AuthorSorry for the confusion! I'm divorced but receiving spousal benefits based on my ex-husband's record (we were married 22 years). SSA still calls them "spousal benefits" even though we're no longer married. I should have been clearer!
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Aiden O'Connor
Just to clarify for everyone: You can receive divorced spouse benefits if you were married for at least 10 years, are currently unmarried, and your ex-spouse is entitled to benefits. These are officially called "divorced spouse benefits" but many people (and even some SSA reps) casually refer to them as spousal benefits.
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KylieRose
One additional consideration regarding your Medicare premium: The $174.70 you mentioned is the standard Part B premium for 2024. However, if your modified adjusted gross income from 2023 (as reported on your tax return) was above certain thresholds, you might be subject to IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount), which would increase your premium. Based on the income you mentioned, you're likely below those thresholds, but it's something to be aware of if your income fluctuates year to year.
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Sofía Rodríguez
AuthorThank you! My income has been pretty steady around $22-23k for the past few years, so I should be well below the IRMAA threshold. One less thing to worry about!
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