Social Security

For 2018, the tax rate on the employee portion of Social Security is 6.2% on wages up to $128,400, so Social Security tax withholdings should not exceed $7,960.80. Medicare tax of 1.45% is withheld from all wages regardless of amount.

On Schedule SE for 2018, self-employment tax of 15.3% applies to earnings of up to $128,400 after the earnings are reduced by 7.65%. The 15.3% rate equals 12.4% for Social Security (6.2% employee share and 6.2% employer share) plus 2.9% for Medicare.

If net earnings exceed $128,400, the 2.9% Medicare rate applies to the entire amount. One half of the self-employment tax may be claimed as an above-the-line deduction on Schedule 1 of Form 1040.

In 2016, there is no increase in the Social Security wage base of $118,500. The Social Security tax rate on employers and employees stays at 6.2%. The Medicare tax rate on employers and employees stays at 1.45% on all pay. BUT...
In 2017, the Social Security wage base is raised to $127,200. The maximum amount of Social Security tax a taxpayer will pay in 2017 will increase from $7,347 in 2016 to $7,886.40 in 2017. An increase of $539.40.
in 2017, the Social Security tax rate on employers and employees stays at 6.2%. The Medicare tax rate on employers and employees stays at 1.45% on all pay.

Recipients under the full retirement age can earn up to $15,720 between the ages of 62 and 65. people who turn 66 in 2016 will not loose any benefits if they earn $41,880 or less before they reach that age.
Recipients under the full retirement age can earn up to $16,920 between the ages of 62 and 65. people who turn 66 in 2017 will not loose any benefits if they earn $44,880 or less before they reach that age.

On March 1, 2013, the Treasury department will stop mailing paper checks to Social Security recipients. Retirees will be required to choose to have their Social Security payments either directly deposited into a bank or credit union account or loaded onto a prepaid Direct Express Debit MasterCard.
New Social Security beneficiaries have been required to choose an electronic payment option since May 2011, and approximately 93 % of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments are already being made electronically.

Everyone born in 1929 or later needs 40 Social Security credits to be eligible for retirement benefits. You can earn up to four credits per year, so you will need to work at least 10 years to become eligible for retirement benefits.
Each year the amount of earnings needed for a credit rises as average earnings levels rise. In 2012, you receive one credit for each $1,130 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year.

The Social Security Administration, who made the wage base 2013 announcement (The wage base in 2013 is $113,700) also announced that people receiving social security benefits will get a cost of living adjustment (or COLA) adjustment in 2013. Social security benefits will go up 1.7% in 2013. They increased 3.6% in 2012.

The 2012 social security tax rate is 6.2% of your earnings (or 12.4% for self employed tax),The employer will still need to pay 6.2%
The 2011 Payroll Tax Cut temporarily lowered the social security tax rate for the employee to 4.2% in 2011.The employer will still need to pay 6.2%

The wage base in 2013 is $113,700. It’s an increase over the 2012 Social Security wage base, which was $110,100. The wage base increase follows an increase last year over the 2011 Social Security wage base, which was $106,800.
Social security taxes are the taxes that are taken from your paycheck to contribute to the social security program. However, there is a taxable wage base limit, and earnings above this amount are not taxed.

For each quarter of coverage the Earnings needed to earn one Social Security Credit is $1,160 ($1130 in 2012)