Social Security Explained, 2021 Edition

The 2021 Edition of Social Security Explained provides a succinct, comprehensive, and detailed explanation of the federal old-age, survivor's, and disability insurance programs under the Social Security Act.

Social Security Explained, 2021 Edition covers:

• Who is covered by the Social Security system
• Liability for Social Security tax
• How a worker acquires "insured status" required for benefit eligibility
• Conditions of entitlement by a worker, self-employed person, and spousal and child beneficiaries to the various kinds of Social Security benefits
• Taxation of benefits
• Strategies for increasing benefits and managing attendant tax consequences

In addition to thorough analysis of the applicable laws, regulations, and administrative rulings, Social Security Explained, 2021 Edition includes:

• The latest earnings base for the Social Security tax and Medicare portion of the tax, as well as the annual earnings or retirement test amount
• The formula for the calculation of the maximum total amounts a family can receive in 2021 and prior years
• And much more!

Previous Edition: Social Security Explained, 2020 Edition, ISBN: 9781543819526

The Social Security System
Social Security and Hospital Insurance Taxes

• Tax Rates
• Avoiding Tax Scams
• Employee Taxes
• Wages
• Returns and Payment of Taxes

Federal Income Taxability of Benefits Coverage

• Employees
• Employers
• Employment
• Election of Coverage or Exemption
• Totalization Agreements

Coverage of Self-Employed Persons

• Introduction
• Self-Employment Income and Taxes
• Net Earnings From Self-Employment
• Returns and Payment of Taxes Under SECA
• Benefits

Social Security Benefits

• Introduction
• Insured Status Requirements
• Computing Averages of Earnings
• Computing The Primary Insurance Amount
• Retirement Benefits
• Disability
• Family Benefits
• Gratuitous Wage Credits
• Actuarially Reduced Benefits
• Minimum and Maximum Benefits
• Events Causing Increases in Benefits
• Events Causing Loss of Benefits
• Miscellaneous Provisions
• Claims for Benefits and Appeals

Table of Cases
Topical Index