Author Description

The 2014 Edition of Social Security Benefits Including Medicare provides a concise but helpful explanation of the complex rules governing the Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability benefits programs. This booklet pays particular attention to retirement benefits and Parts A, B, C and D of the Medicare program. It details eligibility requirements, explains the calculation of monthly benefits, and discusses the effect of early retirement and delayed retirement on benefits. It reflects benefit amounts, the taxable earnings base and other variables set forth by the Social Security Administration for the upcoming year, which will enable retirees to compute the amount of their benefits. In addition, Social Security Benefits Including Medicare provides retirees with an understanding of the tax treatment of their benefits, factors that can reduce benefits, and the impact of events, such as divorce, on benefits. Finally, the discussion contains numerous examples, all of which have been updated to reflect 2014 figures and rules, including the increase in the full retirement age and additional Medicare taxes that may be imposed on high earners. The 2014 Edition has been updated to include: Updated examples and charts to reflect all 2014 cost of living adjustments Expanded discussion of the additional 0.9% Medicare tax and the 3.8% Medicare tax on investment income Expanded discussion of the reduction of benefits at early retirement and the credit for delayed retirement Equal treatment of same-sex spouses and impact of invalidation of Defense of Marriage Act by U.S. Supreme Court IRS rules governing refunds or adjustments of taxes paid with respect to same-sex benefits Expanded discussion of the Windfall Elimination provision A new chart on Annual Scheduled Benefit Amounts for Retired Workers With Various Pre-Retirement And more!