Tax Season: What To Know If You Get Social Security or Supplemental Security Income
Reading Time: 4 MinutesLast Updated: November 2, 2023
It’s tax season once again. It’s important to read this blog even if your earnings or benefits don’t require you to file a federal tax return. You may be entitled to special tax credits that can mean extra cash to help you with expenses. These tax credits are available even if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and don’t normally file a tax return.
The Child Tax Credit
What is the Child Tax Credit (CTC)?
The CTC is a tax benefit, expanded in March 2021, that helps families who are raising children. You can claim the CTC for any qualifying child even if you don’t usually file a federal tax return. You can get up to $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6, and up to $3,000 for each qualifying child age 6 – 17. These ages are determined as of December 31, 2021.
Am I eligible for the CTC if I get Social Security or SSI?
Yes, if you meet the qualifying rules of the CTC. You can claim this credit from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on each of your qualifying children, even if you get Social Security or SSI and don’t normally file a tax return. You also may have received up to half of your credit through advance monthly CTC payments made by the IRS from July to December 2021. For more information about advance monthly CTC payments, you can visit ChildTaxCredit.gov and the IRS 2021 CTC and Advance CTC Payments Frequently Asked Questions.
Will advance monthly CTC payments, or any CTC I claim on my tax return, reduce my Social Security or SSI benefits?
Advance monthly CTC payments, as well as any CTC that you claim on your 2021 tax return, won’t reduce your Social Security benefits.
If you receive SSI, we won’t count the CTC (or any advance monthly payments you might have received during 2021) as income or resources for 12 months after you receive it when considering your eligibility for SSI and monthly SSI payment amount. If you received any advance monthly CTC payments, be aware of when you received them. You can get that information from the IRS Child Tax Credit Update Portal.
How do I claim the CTC?
You can claim the CTC when you file your federal tax return for 2021. You can visit ChildTaxCredit.gov for options to file a federal tax return for free.
What if I have questions about the CTC?
Please visit ChildTaxCredit.gov and read IRS Filing Season 2021 CTC Questions and Answers if you have questions. Social Security can’t answer CTC questions.
The Earned Income Tax Credit
What is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
The EITC provides low- to moderate-income workers and families a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund. The EITC amount you might get generally depends on your earned income and the number of your qualifying children.
Am I eligible for the EITC if I get Social Security or SSI?
Yes, if you meet the qualifying rules of the EITC. Receiving Social Security or SSI doesn’t affect your eligibility for the EITC.
Do my Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or SSI payments count as earned income for the EITC?
Learn if your disability payments count as earned income for the EITC at the IRS’ Disability and the Earned Income Tax Credit webpage.
How do I claim the EITC?
To claim the EITC, you must qualify and file a federal tax return. You can visit ChildTaxCredit.gov for options to file a federal tax return for free.
What if I have questions about the EITC?
Learn more about the EITC, including basic qualifications, at the IRS’ Earned Income Tax Credit webpage. Social Security can’t answer EITC questions.
Your Annual Social Security Benefit Statement
What is the Benefit Statement and what do I do with it?
Your Benefit Statement is a tax form from Social Security that shows the total amount of Social Security benefits you received in the previous year. It’s also referred to as an SSA-1099. Noncitizens who live outside of the United States receive the SSA-1042S instead of the SSA-1099. You should report the amount of Social Security income you received to the IRS on your federal tax return.
The Benefit Statement isn’t available for people who only receive SSI payments because SSI payments aren’t taxed.
How do I get my annual benefit statement?
If you receive Social Security benefits, we mailed your Benefit Statement to your address on file with us. If you didn’t receive it, or if lost, you can get your SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S instantly online with a my Social Security account.
Remember to Check your Earnings History
If you don’t receive Social Security benefits, this is a great time to review your earnings history by looking at your Social Security Statement (Statement). It’s important because your future Social Security benefits will be based on your earnings history we received from the IRS. Underreported earnings will mean lower monthly benefit payments when you are ready to start receiving them.
Use your Statement to review your earnings history and to see personalized benefit estimates so you can plan for your future.
Tax season doesn’t have to be a stressful time of year. And for many people, it’s an opportunity to claim additional money. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, more Americans can claim larger Child Tax Credits and Earned Income Tax Credits for 2021.
Please share this blog with family and friends and remember that Social Security is here to help secure your today and tomorrow.
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Tags: General Information, my Social Security, my Social Security account, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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JJ L.
Everyone is not as lucky as you to have other sources of income to go along with there SS.
They probably have realized that a long time ago but have been unable to do anything else about the situation they had been placed in.
I am receiving disability and I receiving military retirement as well, but the way the system is setup one overrides another. I have been forced to pay $150.00 dollars a month for Medicare insurance.
When I joined the military I was told if I retired I would have medical insurance for life, but I was never informed that if I am eligible for Medicare that my military insurance always comes secondary and if I don’t take it I am at the bottom of the barrel for health care coverage.
You can’t plan for something that they can change the rules in the middle of the game to benefit the system and works against the individual.
So we can’t be quick to judge someone else unless you have walked the course with them.
alfredo r.
How do I qualify to get money added back to my monthly check?
kma
What a croc. How many retired people 62 or older can get the child tax credit?
SRD
People raising their grandkids. Sadly happens a lot.
Matt
Movie Stars in there 70s/80s Marrying Young women 🙂
Virginia B.
It is terrible that I have to work to make ends meet and now my SS gets taxed according to how much I make. I wonder which bill they got that passed through on. My refund this year went from 1400.00 down to 200.00 due to the taxing SS for the year. Discusting..
LW
Stop complaining and do something about it. Do some research and vote them out of the politics and put someone in there that knows what they’re doing. It’s up to us to vote the people we want in and stop complaining about the stupid ones that are in there now
v s.
social security is terrible you can’t live on what you get and then they tell you no if you apply for help like heap or snap is a disgrace for the seniors who worked hard all their life
Ron P.
I don’t work for SS or any other government agency. I’m retired and I don’t rely solely on my SS to get along, nobody should, no matter how hard you worked all your life. You should have realized long ago that SS alone was not going to be enough and done something about it then.
Win S.
I bet you are one of those people who tells poor folks to “Pull themselves up by their bootstraps!” What you may not be aware of is that not all Americans own boots. For millions of Americans working hard 50 hours a week 52 weeks a year barely gives them enough to feed themselves and keep a leaky roof over their heads. While others think nothing of spending $50 for a tie, $500,000 for a yacht, and millions for their own personal congressman or congresswoman. Not surprisingly owning a congressman pretty much adds up to a pretty decent pair of boots! And the less fortunate? Well it’s their own damn fault that ehy have to go barefoot! Or is it?
Patti S.
SocSec was never mean to support you; it was intended to be an assistance when you retired.
Travis L.
That’s the way to tell him!
Dennis
AMEN!!
Mike C.
Hello Ron,
I sure realized that I would not be able to survive on SS alone early on regardless of the diminishing of its benefits from that era.
As companies eradicated pensions and forced employees to invest in 401Ks and subject themselves to the gambling with one’s savings that requires, I had to as well. Of course I kept my eye on that moving target and adjusted allocations as necessary allowing me to profit most times. Then 08 hit as did a work accident, four spinal surgeries and genetic disease.
Loss of employment, a collapsed 401K fund, foreclosure on my home etc…I know exist on a lower rung of society far from my previous 6- figure existence. I’m not complaining John, merely reporting what can become a new reality in a blink of an eye. My new efforts at survival will reduce my longevity, but overall mortality rates and maternity deaths rise due to govt irresponsibility and corporate appeasement. As indicated, I may in fact be on the bottom rung, many aren’t even privy to a ladder. If you remember the game of Chutes and Ladders, some were only given chutes from birth. Stay well my friend.
Mr G.
AMEN!!!!
Madeline
Mike drop!!!!!! You said it all! Most work hard their entire life, unable to save additional for retirement. Shame on those who don’t understand that!
emeljay
That is a fact – I am 71 years old and despite my social security, I still have to work a full time job (40 hrs a week) just to make ends meet. The party who governs Social Security needs to start making it harder for people who file for SSD – I have a relative that is getting twice what I get and she is on Social Security Disability (not retirement) for a bipolar disorder!! And there is not ONE THING wrong with her!!! It literally makes me sick that SS just seems to throw money towards the alleged ‘disabled’ but is not willing to compensate the elderly who truly need it…
Paul T.
Not everyone on disability is faking it. I can’t work anymore because of slaving away all my life and then being told “Sorry your unemployable”. Then the government makes you go about 2 years with no income before you can even apply. I wish I could go back to work. Stop crying about those who are just as unfortunate as you or even worse. We are all poor or we wouldn’t be dependent on the Social Security system to begin with.
John S.
You focus on her (who might have an “invisible” disability) but not the fact that the cap hasn’t been raised since Reagan. Raise the cap to $400,000 or more and peg it to inflation. If you have a better answer for those with brain damage or whatever, please share, but your relative’s 15,000 a year isn’t going to fix the fact that the cap hasn’t been raised since the 80’s.
Pam
Mental illness is not something you can see and the person may look physically able to work. However, they did not get SSI or SSD without a lot of documentation to support the diagnosis. Just because they “look” like they can work, does not mean they can. A little more sensitive to those who suffer with mental illness would help us and them!
Gerardo E.
I´m an ex-pat living in Mexico and I have a bone to pick with all those who are for illegal migration. There are many Mexican nationals here and in the surrounding areas collecting social security and other benefits for U.S. citizens while many hard-working Americans have to justify the receipt of their benefits.
Travis L.
Those of us receiving ssdi also earned it!
Lisa
I worked 43 yrs of my life paying s.s. ,which is why now I am disabled at 60 I draw my ssdi which is what I paid in not ssi! You apparently don’t understand how it works. You don’t get any help basically unless you’re on ssi. disability does not get you extra help so with money woes you can’t even work to supplement.
Lisa
Oh I have no health insurance because I can’t afford it and I am not eligible for medicare for the first 2years of disability! , now wouldn’t you think a disabled person needs medical care.
Marie
Yep, they should, once you qualify for Medicare you still have to pay for it.
Contact SHIBA-Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisor to see if they help with health insurance.
Mickie L.
Amen this is so true
Barbara
Barbara H.
Would it not help, if widows would be able to receive their deceased spouse benefits, after all, they were married, but she/he cannot receive get the benefits if she/he receive SS of their own. Every little bit helps/
Dan
If I passed I was told my wife would get a percentage of it. But you’re saying she gets nothing if she’s getting her own. SS??
A.C.
Hi, Dan. Thanks for your question. The amount of your wife’s survivor benefit would be based on several factors, including: your earnings, when you started receiving your benefits, her age at the time of your death, and the amount of her own retirement benefit. We compare her own benefit with her potential survivor benefit. If her survivor benefit would be higher than her own current retirement benefit, she would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, please visit our page, Planning For Your Survivors. We hope this helps.
Kathy S.
My husband died in 2008. I went to our SS office and received widow benefits in place of my disability benefits. I hope you aren’t thinking you should get both.
Bj
You get whichever is the larger amount. Not both.
Kimer
I totally agree! We seniors have worked jobs, contributed to society, AND paid taxes. At age 62 there are no benefits we qualify for unless you have a disability. It should be an automatic benefit to anyone 62 or older to receive a minimum of 200.00 in SNAP/EBT. Especially since our political leaders in Alabama tax both SS and groceries. And l am a frequent, registered voter. It does no good as the repugnantcons have a super majority in this backwards state!
Patti S.
SocSec was never designed to pay the SSI of people that are under 65 that have disability (12,519) or claim to have disability, nor the 5,728 misc.
I don’t know how many of the people now over 65, (51,800) were formerly drawing SSI. It is a shame that the “social security trust” is running out of money. The SSI should have been a separate budget item.
Douglas R.
The following is right on the SS website. Know your facts before you post disinformation.
SSI is financed by general funds of the U.S. Treasury–personal income taxes, corporate and other taxes.
Social Security taxes collected under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) or the Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA) do not fund the SSI program.
Don W.
Great Idea! Now if the idiots I want voted out only lived in my state. “WE” cannot vote the career politicians out, only the people that live in their district and allow this bull crap can end it.
Sarah
You can research and vote intelligently all you want. The problem comes when those elected deliberately refuse to actually represent the interests of their constituents, instead choosing to engage in unlawful activities relating to both power and finances. Politicians are sure happy to glad hand voters for the purpose of getting donations but amazingly become incommunicado once in office and pursuing their own agendas.
James M.
How can I find out if I qualify for EITC
LW
@
A.C.
Hi, James. Learn more about the EITC, including basic qualifications, at the IRS’ Earned Income Tax Credit webpage. Social Security can’t answer EITC questions. Thanks!
BarbaraB
This information is good to know. It’s always a plus to have information explained, so we know what we can claim, or not.
SD
This is OUR money not the government’s!!! They shouldn’t have a right to our money. We had it taxed already, we shouldn’t have it taxed again. We earned that money thru out our working lifetime. Those greedy rich bastards in congress, most of who are millionaires, shouldn’t be paid a wage nor should we be paying their health insurance or retirement. No one has ever paid for mine!
Mel
Know Jesus as your saviour for eternity. He provides and supplies peace even during these absurd, deceitful times. Thank You Jesus. He will return to this earth again – soon! Love Him. . . And have NO fear
Daniel
So Be It! AMEN!
Nguyen
Hallelujah snackbar !
Seiko
What kind of cool aid are you drinking? Tell that to the
Ukrainians who are being killed each day. Jesus will return
soon? After thousands of years of this b.s. from you so-called
Christians, let me know when this will happen. Suckers!
Anna
Your right, my husband and I have one income and there taking money from both of us for Irma and part d all because we sold are house, I don’t understand why both of us and we have one income,I don’t need this part d why should I pay for somebody else 😡😡😡😡😡😡they are taking all are hard earned money.
HB
You can thank Al gore for the taxes you pay on SS.
Allen
Wrong it started under Ronald Reagan,!
Kirk M.
Guess again!
Joanne N.
The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983.
Mary
The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983.
https://www.ssa.gov/history/InternetMyths2.html#:~:text=The%20taxation%20of%20Social%20Security,President%20Reagan%20in%20April%201983.
Rose
The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983. These amendments passed the Congress in 1983 on an overwhelmingly bi-partisan vote.
S. M.
Sorry, but it was Ronald Regan who started having social security taxed!
N. A.
I totally agree with you!! but it doesn’t matter what we think or feel, the government will always take what they can!!. They make so much money it’s crazy!! I think they shouldn’t serve a term longer than 8 years. Most of them are corrupt as hell. If they had to live under the healthcare, I can guarantee we would have better healthcare!
Craig
You are so right! It’s such BS.
We get taxed twice, and they pay NOTHING!
Concerned S.
Just an FYI. Social Security income was not taxed until 1984 when the Ronald Reagan administration passed tax cuts for the rich and started taxing the Social Security income of retirees and the disabled. You can look it up here. Oh, and I agree that our Social Security income shouldn’t be taxed. https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/research-summaries/income-taxes-on-benefits.html
Joseph L.
I am 85 years old, is my social security taxable?
A.C.
Hi, Joseph. Thanks for visiting our blog. You must pay taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. If you file a joint return, you must pay taxes if you and your spouse have “combined income” of more than $32,000. If you are married and file a separate return, you probably will have to pay taxes on your benefits. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner. For tax questions, you will need to contact the IRS. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040 or you can visit their website. We hope this helps.
Sher'ron H.
I totally agree. I have said the same thing over and over again. Why are we being taxed twice? Makes no sense!
Jace C.
I agree! And I’m also tired of OUR money going to people who come here illegally with their hands out!!
AGS
I bet your ancestors did
Jan
I agree with you 100%. I worked when I was in high school. Worked sll my life and fir 2 yrs took care of my dad all day until he passed and then worked till I retired.
Too many ppl are getting money frim the government and shouldn’t be.
Jan
Rose
In a way, it’s like term life insurance. Yes, it cost you money but there may or may not be a return on your investment.
sunshinekid0
Too many people see SS as their RETIREMENT Plan though they have been told it is a small portion. Most people don’t Plan to Fail, they just Fail to Plan.
It is sooo important that the next generation gets educated on this principle. The Baby Boomers will drain all the $$$ within the next 5-7 years and then where will you beMy 3cents
SD
I’m a baby boomer myself & I have a retirement along with my SS. While I agree with SOME of what you said, please remember that WE worked for many years & some of us baby boomers continue to work so let’s not put everyone in the same category. You want to complain, complain about the rich, lazy incompetent people who call themselves congressman & women who drain our resources unnecessarily while not accomplishing a thing!
Rose
Yup. That’s why every candidate on the national level should be asked, and put on the spot, as to what their views are on this subject. Yelling from a stage that you will “save” Social Security” is not a plan or a policy. If they can’t answer that question, positive or negative, why do they deserve a vote?
Todd H.
No, our government is going to send all of our tax money over seas or throw it toward senseless pork barrel spending. It won’t be those that paid into the system that will be to blame for the shortfall of Social Security funds. Much money is spent foolishly by our lawmakers that could be put into the Social Security funds.
After much thinking though . . .
Is there really such thing as a deficit? I have yet to see the banks call for the money owed by our country even though the supposed debt load keeps growing. The same cost goes into producing a $100 bill as it does a $1.00 bill, so I am not certain why someone with intelligence hasn’t figured out the debt can be paid off faster by using larger denominations of money that cost the same amount to produce as the dollar bill.
Prospector23
That would work as long as you don’t mind if all your money is now worth only 1% of its former value. Printing money the government doesn’t really have is the cause of rampant inflation we’re now experiencing.
John H.
SS should not be taxed nor should it be given to people who have not earned it. Take congressional fingers out of the pie, and make them payback what they have taken for ineligible recipients, sure they will take it away from other programs that are there for the eligible,but that’s the way the government works.