FINANCE
DO JOINT TAX FILINGS ALTER SS EARNING LIMITS?
Dear ftu&tar
My wife and I
have filed a joint
income tax return
for years. My wife is
working and I’m 62
and wondering - if I
start drawing Social
Security, does the
earnings limit only
relate to what I earn,
or does it include
what my wife earns as
well? Is the earnings
limit tied to our IRS
filing status? I need to
know if I should file
my taxes as a single
to be sure my wife’s
earnings are not
combined with mine to affect
my Social Security payment.
Also, I’ve read that it’s
recommended to register online
with Social Security if you’re
62. benefits yet.
Russell Gloor
is a certified Social Se
curity advisor with the
Association of Mature
American Citizens
Is this true? What are the
benefits for doing
this? Wondering
Wohjcierin^r
Income tax filing
status doesn’t matter
when it comes to
determining if your
earnings from work
exceed the Social
Security “earnings
limit.”
If you collect
Social Security
before you reach
your full retirement
age, your wife’s
earnings from
working will not be counted
toward your personal earnings
limit. The earnings test looks
only at your personal earnings
and, if you exceed the limit,
Social Security will take back
some of your benefits. But only
your personal earnings - as
reported on your W-2 or Self-
Employment tax return - count.
As for your second question:
it is not necessary, nor would
it gain you any advantage, to
“register” with Social Security
before you are ready to claim
your benefits.
Indeed, Social Security does
not even provide you with
a way to do that. What they
do provide is a way for you
to create your own personal
“My Social Security” online
account, which gives you access
to all of the online features
provided by the Social Security
Administration.
Having an online Social
Security account doesn’t
provide you with any benefit
advantage, but it allows you
to monitor your earnings
record, get a replacement Social
Security card and get estimates
of your current and future
Social Security benefits to help
you decide when to claim.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal
or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC
Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association
(NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed
by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.
To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-
advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
The 2 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://www.
amac.us] is a senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its
members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a
practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today.
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