Social Security Benefits: Calculation, Taxation, Offsets and the Special Minimum (Social Issues, Justice and Status)

With $812 billion in benefit outlays in 2013, Social Security is the largest program in the federal budget. It provides monthly cash benefits to retired and disabled workers and their family members as well as to the family members of deceased workers. Currently, there are about 58 million beneficiaries. Under current law, Social Security's revenues are projected to be insufficient to pay full scheduled benefits after 2033. Monthly benefit amounts are determined by federal law. Social Security is an issue of ongoing interest both because of its role in supporting a large portion of the population and because of its long-term financial imbalance, and policy makers have considered numerous proposals to change its benefit computation rules. This book discusses the calculation of social security benefits, as well as the taxation, offsets and the special minimum benefits.