Latest news with #SSA-1099
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How to access Social Security services during Binghamton office closure this week
If you have any timely business to handle at Social Security, go to the Binghamton office before July 31. The Binghamton Social Security office will temporarily suspend in-person services July 31 to Aug. 1 for renovations. The 2 Court St. office will reopen its doors on Aug. 4. During the closure, telephone services will be available at 1-866-964-3971. For in-person services, customers can visit the Oneonta office or the federal building in Syracuse. The offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Appointments are suggested to avoid waiting in line. Call 1-800-772-1213 for an appointment. More: Memorial service for Jason McGlone at East Branch Fire Station honors his life Social Security office locations to visit during Binghamton closure Oneonta Social Security Office 31 Main St., Unit 1, Oneonta. Syracuse Federal Building 100 South Clinton St., Floor 4, Syracuse. Social Security services offered online Access your Social Security account at If you are already a recipient of SSI, direct deposit options like starting services or making changes to an account can be done online. Customers can also request a replacement SSA-1099 form or fill out an application for an updated Social Security card. For those who need proof of benefits, a current Benefit Verification Letter can be printed or downloaded from the website. Recipients who have not begun receiving benefits can use the online account to get a personalized Social Security Statement. Online services also include applying for retirement, disability or Medicare. Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at kcgrant@ This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton Social Security office temporarily closing for renovations Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security Taxes: How Much You Really Get With the Maximum Benefit
When trying to organize your finances or attempt retirement planning in general, you're likely going to be factoring in your benefits from Social Security to help you handle some of your expenses. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the maximum benefit you could earn if you are ready to start claiming may vary, as it depends on the age you start collecting benefits. Find Out: Learn More: For example, if you wait until age 70, the maximum monthly benefit is $5,108, which would be the most you can earn, but if you start collecting at full retirement age, which is between 66 and 67, the maximum benefit is $4,018. If you want an early retirement, the maximum benefit for retiring at age 62 is $2,831. Currently, the average monthly retirement benefit for Social Security recipients is about $1,999.97 for retired workers and $1,948.17 for all retirement beneficiaries. However, what does that mean when it comes to your Social Security taxes? To better understand your Social Security taxes, it's important to know the taxable wage cap for earning the maximum Social Security benefit. In 2025, to receive the maximum benefit, there are several requirements you need to fulfill. Firstly, you need a history of consistently earning at least the annual maximum taxable wage cap of $176,100. To truly get the highest possible amount, you must also delay claiming benefits until age 70. If you do, you would get about $5,108 per month. The taxable wage cap is up from last year, as $168,600 was the salary needed to receive the maximum benefit. The SSA takes your 35 highest-earning years and averages them (adjusted for inflation) to determine your benefit. If, via this calculation, you have paid the taxable maximum over this period, you may be eligible for the maximum benefit. Read Next: Social Security income and taxes can be a confusing topic since your tax situation can be fairly straightforward during your working years if you receive your income from one source. When you're working, you submit your employment income and your various other investment streams when you file your federal taxes to figure out where you stand. When you retire, your income may arrive from multiple sources with different characteristics (a pension plan, real estate holdings, etc.). While the benefits you receive from Social Security are taxable at the federal level, your overall income will determine whether you pay taxes. According to the SSA, you'll have to pay federal income taxes on your benefits when you have a significant amount of income in addition to your benefits. For example, if you have self-employment income, dividend income and other taxable income streams, then you may have to pay taxes since you're likely earning over the threshold. Every January, you should receive a Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099) showing you the benefits you received in the prior year. You then have to disclose this Benefit Statement when you work on your federal income tax return. During this process, you're going to find out whether your benefit will be taxed or not. As of 2025, 41 states won't tax you on your Social Security. But if you live in one of the following nine states, you will have to pay taxes on your benefits: Colorado Connecticut Minnesota Montana New Mexico Rhode Island Utah Vermont West Virginia Keep in mind that no matter where you live, your Social Security benefits could still be subject to federal taxes depending on factors such as income and tax filing type. So, what happens to your taxes when you qualify for the maximum Social Security income of over $5,000? You're going to be taxed accordingly when the IRS factors in your combined income. These calculations will depend on how many other income streams you have in your retirement years. If you're over the limit, then you'll have to pay taxes on 85% of your benefits from Social Security. This is on top of any additional taxes that you're going to have to pay on your other income streams, unless, of course, they are eliminated altogether. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? The Most Expensive Disney Merchandise Ever Sold -- and Who's Buying It How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region This article originally appeared on Social Security Taxes: How Much You Really Get With the Maximum Benefit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Forbes
REAL ID: Here's What You'll Need To Fly Starting Today
Beginning today, travelers will need a REAL ID or any of about a dozen alternative forms of identification to get through TSA security checkpoints in the United States—but the head of Homeland Security says most passengers 'will be allowed to fly.' Does your driver's license have a star on it? Then it's a REAL ID. Kansas Department of Revenue The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require travelers to present a REAL ID-compliant form of identification at airport security checkpoints. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told a congressional panel Tuesday that 'people will be allowed to fly' but 'may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,' the Associated Press reported. Travelers without a REAL ID or alternative form of acceptable identification will be subject to additional screening and face the possibility of missing their flights, a senior TSA official had previously told Forbes. Besides a REAL ID driver's license, there are roughly a dozen other forms of compliant identification–including passports and military IDs. After REAL ID enforcement starts, the biggest difference will be that a standard state-issued driver's license will no longer get a traveler through airport security checkpoints. Beginning May 7, a driver's license must be a more secure version known as a REAL ID. How Do I Know If I Have A Real Id? In general, a REAL ID looks like a standard driver's license but it has a star in the upper right corner, however, every state's REAL ID looks slightly different. In California, for example, the star is placed inside the silhouette of a bear. In Michigan and Maine, the star is inside an outline of the state. There is an online quiz on the TSA website to help travelers determine whether their driver's license is a standard ID or a REAL ID. Only if you have a flight booked out of a U.S. airport. Travelers with no immediate travel plans can obtain a REAL ID at their leisure, but before their next flight. Where Can You Get A Real Id? Americans can obtain a REAL ID through their state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). While requirements differ slightly by state, all applicants must provide documentation showing their full legal name and date of birth, two proofs of address and proof of lawful status in the U.S. In addition, applicants must bring a Social Security card or SSA-1099 form or a document that shows both their name and Social Security number, such as a pay stub or W-2 form, according to the Department of Homeland Security website. Some state DMVs are reporting backlogs of REAL ID applications. What Alternatives Will The Tsa Accept At Airport Security Checkpoints? Besides a REAL ID driver's license, there are more than a dozen other forms of compliant identification. These include a passport; passport card; Department of Homeland Security-issued trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST); U.S. Department of Defense ID (military ID, including identification issued to dependents); U.S. permanent resident card (green card); border crossing card; Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe photo ID (including Enhanced Tribal Cards); HSPD-12 PIV Card (issued to federal employees and contractors); foreign government-issued passport; Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card; transportation worker ID credential; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766); U.S. merchant mariner credential; or a Veteran Health ID card (VHIC). What Should Passengers Expect At The Airport? Travelers with a REAL ID should arrive at the airport two hours before departure, as normal. Those without a compliant ID should add an additional hour and expect to be steered to a separate line for additional screening. Travelers without a REAL ID should be prepared that they may miss their flight, a senior TSA official told Forbes. Is There Any Possibility Tsa Will Let You Fly Without A Real Id? The TSA's goal is to make sure passengers with REAL IDs are not disrupted or delayed unnecessarily. Those who arrive at the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID are taking a risk, as there is no guarantee they will get through security. Still, if you have a ticket and boarding pass but no REAL ID, TSA officers will look for alternative ways to help you prove your identity. 'We are used to dealing with people who lose their wallets and IDs,' the TSA official told Forbes, 'and we have ways to vet passengers and make sure we're satisfied the person standing in front of us is the person they say they are.' Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the REAL ID Act of 2005 set higher minimum security standards for issuing state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards necessary to enter federal buildings and fly in the U.S.. While the deadline has been delayed several times since its original 2008 target date, the May 7 enforcement date is firm. 'It's been 20 years. We are doing this,' the TSA official told Forbes. TSA Now Accepts Digital IDs From These 14 States (Forbes)
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Forbes
REAL ID Enforcement Starts May 7–Here's What You'll Need To Fly
Beginning May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID or any of about a dozen alternative forms of identification to get through TSA security checkpoints in the United States. Does your driver's license have a star on it? Then it's a REAL ID. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require travelers to present a REAL ID-compliant form of identification at airport security checkpoints. Travelers without a REAL ID or alternative form of acceptable identification will be subject to additional screening and face the possibility of missing their flights. Besides a REAL ID driver's license, there are roughly a dozen other forms of compliant identification–including passports and military IDs. After REAL ID enforcement begins, the biggest difference will be that a standard state-issued driver's license will no longer get a traveler through airport security checkpoints. Beginning May 7, a driver's license must be 'enhanced,' or a so-called REAL ID. In general, a REAL ID looks like a standard driver's license but it has a star in the upper right corner, however, every state's REAL ID looks slightly different. In California, for example, the star is placed inside the silhouette of a bear. In Michigan and Maine, the star is inside an outline of the state. There is an online quiz on the TSA website to help travelers determine whether their driver's license is a standard ID or a REAL ID. Only if you have a flight booked out of a U.S. airport. Travelers with no immediate travel plans can obtain a REAL ID at their leisure, but before their next flight. Americans can obtain a REAL ID through their state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). While requirements differ slightly by state, all applicants must provide documentation showing their full legal name and date of birth, two proofs of address and proof of lawful status in the U.S. In addition, applicants must bring a Social Security card or SSA-1099 form or a document that shows both their name and Social Security number, such as a pay stub or W-2 form, according to the Department of Homeland Security website. Some state DMVs are reporting backlogs of REAL ID applications. Besides a REAL ID driver's license, there are more than a dozen other forms of compliant identification. These include a passport; passport card; Department of Homeland Security-issued trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST); U.S. Department of Defense ID (military ID, including identification issued to dependents); U.S. permanent resident card (green card); border crossing card; Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe photo ID (including Enhanced Tribal Cards); HSPD-12 PIV Card (issued to federal employees and contractors); foreign government-issued passport; Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card; transportation worker ID credential; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766); U.S. merchant mariner credential; or a Veteran Health ID card (VHIC). Travelers with a REAL ID should arrive at the airport two hours before departure, as normal. Those without a compliant ID should add an additional hour and expect to be steered to a separate line for additional screening. Travelers without a REAL ID should be prepared that they may miss their flight, a senior TSA official told Forbes. The TSA's goal is to make sure passengers with REAL IDs are not disrupted or delayed unnecessarily. Those who arrive at the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID are taking a risk, as there is no guarantee they will get through security. Still, if you have a ticket and boarding pass but no REAL ID, TSA officers will look for alternative ways to help you prove your identity. 'We are used to dealing with people who lose their wallets and IDs,' the TSA official told Forbes, 'and we have ways to vet passengers and make sure we're satisfied the person standing in front of us is the person they say they are.' Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the REAL ID Act of 2005 set higher minimum security standards for issuing state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards necessary to enter federal buildings and fly in the U.S.. While the deadline has been delayed several times since its original 2008 target date, the May 7 enforcement date is firm. 'It's been 20 years. We are doing this,' the TSA official told Forbes. TSA Now Accepts Digital IDs From These 14 States (Forbes)
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
7 Essential Things to Know About Spousal Social Security Benefits
If your spouse (or ex-spouse) is still alive and is due to receive Social Security benefits, it pays to look into how much you could receive. Here, we'll cover seven essential things you should know before filing for spousal Social Security benefits. To be eligible to collect spousal Social Security benefits, the following must be true: Your spouse must have claimed their own retirement benefits. As you'll see below, this rule does not necessarily apply for ex-spouses. You're 62 or older. However, there is an exception to this rule. You can collect at any age if you care for a child under the age of 16 or who has a disability and is entitled to benefits based on your spouse's record. You haven't earned enough work credit for a Social Security retirement benefit of your own, or you have earned a retirement benefit of your own, but the spousal benefit would be higher. Your benefit is 50% of the amount your spouse is eligible to receive when they reach full retirement age. For example, if your spouse is scheduled to receive $3,000 per month at full retirement age, your benefit would be $1,500. If you decide to receive spousal benefits before you reach your full retirement age, your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced. The Social Security Administration (SSA) makes all the facts, figures, and some of the services you're looking for available on their site. You only need to create a free and secure my Social Security account. Here's a breakdown of what you can do with your my Social Security account: Get a personalized retirement benefit estimate Get proof that you don't receive benefits Check your application status Get your Social Security statement Request a replacement Social Security card Upload documents and submit online forms Set up or change direct deposit Get a Social Security 1099 (SSA-1099) form Print a benefit verification letter Change your address Let's say your spouse postpones taking Social Security until age 70 to earn delayed retirement credits and increase their monthly benefit. While they'll be collecting more in retirement, your maximum spousal benefit remains 50% of the amount they would have received if they'd retired at full retirement age. If you're eligible for retirement benefits based on your own work record and spousal benefits, you'll need to apply for both. It's called "deemed filing" because once you apply for one of the two benefits, you're deemed to have applied for both. The SSA ensures that you receive the larger of the two benefit amounts. Here's an example: One partner is eligible for a monthly retirement benefit of $1,500, and because their spouse is eligible to receive $4,000 at full retirement age, their spousal benefit would be $2,000. Since the spousal benefit is higher, that's the amount they receive. According to the SSA, "If a spouse is eligible for a retirement benefit based on his or her own earnings, and if that benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, then we pay the retirement benefit. Otherwise, we pay the spousal benefit." Divorce doesn't necessarily mean you're no longer eligible for spousal benefits. Here's how to know you're eligible: You were married to your ex for at least 10 years. You're currently unmarried. You're at least 62. Your ex is currently receiving Social Security benefits, or they've reached retirement age and are eligible to receive benefits but have not applied. You can apply if you've been divorced for at least two years. If your ex has reached retirement age but hasn't applied for benefits, you can still apply if you've been divorced for two years or more. Whether you're applying for your retirement benefits, a spouse's benefit, or both, the application can be completed online. If you're at least 61 years and 9 months old, visit the Social Security Administration's website to get started. Planning for retirement is all about feathering your nest to the best of your ability. If collecting spousal Social Security benefits helps maximize your Social Security income, there's no question it's a win. If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 7 Essential Things to Know About Spousal Social Security Benefits was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
