Social
Security is well-known as a supplemental retirement income
program for Americans, but it also provides benefits to
disabled workers, spouses and dependents. The numbers behind
the Social
Security program
can be staggering, but they're also fascinating.
Whether
you're planning for your Social Security benefits, already
drawing payments or simply interested in the facts and
figures surrounding the program, here's
a look at some of the numbers behind the massive government
program.
2035
As the program is currently structured, 2035 won't be a
happy year for Social Security recipients. In that year, it
is estimated that the Social Security Trust Fund will be
depleted. While that sounds ominous — and it certainly isn't
a good thing — it doesn't mean that Social Security is going
away. But it does mean that unless changes are made,
benefits will have to be reduced. Since Social Security is
such a political hot button, it's likely that some
modifications will occur before then. However, when planning
out your lifetime benefits, it's prudent to factor in the
chance that your benefits won't be quite what you're
expecting.
22%
Unless Congress takes steps to shore up Social Security
funding, 22% is the amount that benefits may be cut in 2034.
For the many retirees who rely on Social Security to make up
the bulk of their retirement funding, a 22% cut in benefits
could be devastating. However, with the expected depletion
of the Social Security Trust Fund, payouts will have to rely
on payroll tax contributions from existing workers. With the
number of retirees increasing relative to the number of
workers, this 22% cut will be necessary without adjustments
to the Social Security program.
$1,236
Social Security is primarily known as a retirement income
program, but it also pays important benefits to disabled
workers. As of May 2022, the average disabled worker
received a $1,236 monthly benefit from Social Security.
Social Security Disability Insurance totaled $145 billion in
2019 and makes payments to 8.2 million beneficiaries and 1.4
million dependents.
$1,657
According to the Social Security Administration, the average
retirement benefit paid to qualifying recipients in 2022 was
$1,657. The maximum Social Security benefit in 2022 is
$4,194 per month for people retiring at age 70, $3,345 at
full retirement age, and $2,364 at age 62.
$4,194
The size of your Social Security retirement benefit is based
on a number of factors, including when you claim your
benefits. Although you can begin receiving benefits as early
as age 62, full retirement age for most Americans is age 67.
But if you wait to start your benefits even longer, until
age 70, the amount of your payout will rise by 8% per year
from age 67 to 70. For top earners who maxed out their
income while working, the highest available Social Security
retirement benefit in 2022 is $4,194.
5.9%
Every year, Social Security payouts are subject to an
inflation adjustment known as the "cost-of-living
adjustment," or COLA. As inflation has been generally tame
over the past few decades, Social Security beneficiaries
have only received COLAs of a few percentage points, or even
less. With inflation spiking in 2021, however, 2022
recipients will see a 5.9% bump in their Social Security
payouts. This is the highest COLA in 40 years.
$147,000
The bulk of Social Security funding comes from payroll tax
on existing workers. However, high earners don't have to pay
tax on all of their earnings. Every year, the Social
Security Administration releases its "wage base" figure,
which is the amount of income that is taxable for Social
Security purposes. For 2022, this amount is $147,000. Just
like the COLA for Social Security payouts, the wage base
figure is subject to annual revision based on the inflation
rate. For 2022, the wage base bumped up significantly from
2021's $142,800.
In most states, Social Security isn't considered taxable
income. However, 12 states do levy income tax on Social
Security benefits. Here are the 12 states that levy some
type of tax on Social Security:
Colorado
Connecticut
Kansas
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Note that most states don't tax all Social Security income.
For example, Kansas levies a 3.1% to 5.7% tax on all income,
but it exempts Social Security income for residents with an
AGI of up to $75,000. Most other states have similar types
of exemptions.
65 Million
According to the Social Security Administration, in 2021, an
average of 65 million Americans received a monthly benefit.
With a current population of about 332 million, this means
that nearly 20% of all Americans are receiving monthly
benefits from the Social Security program. This number is
only anticipated to grow as Americans live longer, part of
the reason that the Social Security program could face
difficulties as soon as 2035.
>$1
Trillion
While the sheer number of Americans receiving Social
Security benefits is impressive, the amount of money being
paid to these beneficiaries is hard to fathom. Social
Security Administration figures show that over $1 trillion
in benefits was paid in 2021 alone. This is another number
set to increase as the number of retirees grows. According
to the SSA, in 1940, a 65-year-old had a life expectancy of
just 14 years; in 2021, that figure was 20 years. As longer
lives equate to higher total payouts, Social Security will
have to rectify its funding problem if it wants to avoid
future cuts in benefits. More
From GOBankingRates
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