What income is not counted by Social Security?

Asked by: Dr. Bridgette Mosciski MD  |  Last update: December 30, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (42 votes)

Pension payments, annuities, and the interest or dividends from your savings and investments are not earnings for Social Security purposes.

What income is excluded from Social Security?

Generally, things that don't count toward your income limit include: State SSI supplement payments. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (food stamps) Section 8 housing vouchers.

What income counts against Social Security?

When we figure out how much to deduct from your benefits, we count only the wages you make from your job or your net earnings if you're self-employed. We include bonuses, commissions, and vacation pay.

What earnings are not covered by Social Security?

who did not withhold Social Security taxes, any pension or annuity you receive from that employer is based on what we call "non-covered earnings." This means that those earnings are not "covered" under the Social Security Act.

What income is not counted?

Nontaxable income won't be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS: inheritances, gifts and bequests. cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer.

At what income is Social Security not taxed?

21 related questions found

What types of income are not considered earned income?

Earned income does not include:
  • Pay you got for work when you were an inmate in a penal institution.
  • Interest and dividends.
  • Pensions or annuities.
  • Social Security.
  • Unemployment benefits.
  • Alimony.
  • Child support.

Does selling a house count as income for Social Security?

You Will Not Lose Your Benefits by Selling Your Home

Therefore, selling a home while retired can not render you ineligible for benefits, although it could expose a larger portion of your benefits to federal and/or state income taxes.

What wages are not subject to Social Security?

The types of earnings (or compensation payments) that are excluded from Social Security wages include: Tips (if they total less than $20 per month) Reimbursed business travel expenses. Employer-paid health or accident insurance premiums.

Can you collect a pension and Social Security at the same time?

For Retirement and Disability benefits

Your Social Security benefit might be reduced if you get a pension from an employer who wasn't required to withhold Social Security taxes. This reduction is called the “Windfall Elimination Provision” (WEP). It most commonly affects government work or work in other countries.

What types of income reduce Social Security benefits?

Only earned income is taken into consideration when it comes to your Social Security benefits. This means income earned from wages, salaries, and tips from a full-time, part-time, contract, freelance, or self-employed job.

What is the 5 year rule for Social Security?

The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

How long can you live outside the US and still collect Social Security?

If you leave the U.S., we will stop your benefits the month after the sixth calendar month in a row that you are outside the country. You can make visits to the United States for specific periods of time, depending on how long you've been outside, to continue receiving your benefits.

What income counts against Social Security limits?

When we figure out how much to deduct from your benefits, we count only the wages you make from your job or your net profit if you're self-employed. We include bonuses, commissions, and vacation pay.

What is excluded as income?

Key Takeaways. Income excluded from the IRS's calculation of your income tax includes life insurance death benefit proceeds, child support, welfare, and municipal bond income. The exclusion rule is generally, if your "income" cannot be used as or to acquire food or shelter, it's not taxable.

What is exempt from Social Security?

Most U.S. workers are automatically enrolled in the Social Security program, but a few groups are exempt from paying taxes into the Social Security system. Members of certain religious groups are often exempt. Most foreign academics and researchers are exempt if they're nonimmigrant and nonresident aliens.

What are earnings not covered by Social Security?

Pension payments, annuities, and the interest or dividends from your savings and investments are not earnings for Social Security purposes. You may need to pay income tax, but you do not pay Social Security taxes.

How much can I earn in 2024 without affecting my Social Security?

But for the 2024 tax year, if you start receiving benefits before your full retirement age, you can only earn up to $22,320 ($1,860 per month) and still get your full benefits. Once you earn more than that limit, the SSA deducts $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn.

What are exempt earnings?

Tax-exempt income is income from any source which the Federal, state, or local government does not include when implementing its income tax .

What is not counted as income?

Inheritances. The IRS doesn't consider inheritances to be taxable income. That includes inheritances of cash, property, etc. Remember, though, that if the money you receive from an inheritance subsequently generates income, such as the interest from an interest-bearing account, those earnings may be taxable.

What is combined income for Social Security?

You will pay federal income taxes on your benefits if your combined income (50% of your benefit amount plus any other earned income) exceeds $25,000/year filing individually or $32,000/year filing jointly. You can pay the IRS directly or withhold taxes from your payment.

What is not counted as income for SSI?

Not everything an individual receives is considered to be income for SSI purposes. Generally, if the item received cannot be used as, or to obtain, food or shelter, it will not be considered as income.

Does rental income count as income for Social Security?

Income you receive from renting rooms or apartments does not count for Social Security purposes unless you provide personal services for the convenience of the occupant.

How much money can you have in the bank on Social Security retirement?

As much as you want at any age The amount of money that you have in your bank accounts has no bearing on your social security benefits, even if you're collecting ss early between 62–66.

Do capital gains count as income for Social Security?

Types of income that are not wages include capital gains, gifts, inheritances, investment income, and jury duty pay.