2002 Tax Help Archives  
  Home > Tax Help Archives > 2002 > Tax Topics & FAQs > FAQ 6.3

Regular & Disability Benefits

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2002 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

I retired last year, and started receiving social security payments. Do I have to pay taxes on my social security benefits?

To determine whether any of your benefits are taxable, compare the base amount for your filing status with the total of one half of your social security payments plus all your income from other sources, including tax exempt interest.

If you are married and file a joint return, you must combine your incomes and your social security and equivalent tier 1 railroad retirement benefits when figuring the taxable portion of the benefits. The taxable amount of the benefits is figured on a worksheet in the Form 1040 or 1040A instruction book, or in Publication 915 (PDF), Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. Refer to Tax Topic 423, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, for base amounts, and additional information regarding taxability and reporting requirements.

References:

  • Publication 915 (PDF), Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits
  • Tax Topic 423, Social security and equivalent railroad retirement benefits

I am looking for the form you would use to find out how many quarters you've put in, and what your Social Security amounts would be and the varying ages of retirement, but I don't know the name. Can you help?

You need to contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or check the Social Security Administration web site, at www.ssa.gov. They can give you the number of the form, tell you how to get the form, and answer your other questions concerning social security.

References:

Are social security disability benefits taxed just like social security retirement benefits?

There is no difference in the formula for determining the taxation of social security benefits - whether the benefits are age-related or disability-related, except social security benefits do not include supplemental security income (SSI) payments, which are not taxable.

References:

  • Publication 915 (PDF), Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits
  • Tax Topic 423, Social security and equivalent railroad retirement benefits

Is social security income paid to a disabled dependent child taxable income on the parent's return?

The income is reportable on the return of the person who has the legal right to receive the benefits. The social security benefits belonging to your dependent child must be added to your child's other income to see whether any of those benefits are taxable to the child. Whether the benefits are taxable will depend on the amount of benefits and amount of other income including interest or dividends.

References:

  • Publication 915 (PDF), Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits
  • Tax Topic 423, Social security and equivalent railroad retirement benefits

Is social security considered earned income for purposes of the Earned Income Credit (EIC)?

Social security is not considered earned income for EIC purposes. However, depending on your other earnings during the year, part of it may be taxable income.

References:

Tax Topics & FAQs | 2002 Tax Year Archives | Tax Help Archives | Home