President Franklin Roosevelt incorporated the Social Security program as an important part of his New Deal government restructuring of the 1930s. The reason for the New Deal was to lift the nation out of the Great Depression and reestablish its economy. Disability benefits provide much needed financial protection to people in a time of vulnerability. You may be wondering: Are my disability benefits going to be taxed? The answer is that it depends on where your benefits are coming from. Below, you will find a basic overview of the key things to know about taxes and disability benefits.
Social Security Disability Benefits are Taxable—But Most Recipients are Exempt
Technically, Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits are taxable—meaning they can be taxed as a matter of federal law. That being said, in practice, the majority of recipients do not have to pay taxes on their SSDI benefits.
If your adjusted gross income is below $25,000 (individual) or $32,000 (married filing jointly), then you are below the income threshold set by government guidelines. As such, your Social Security disability benefits will not be taxed. Of course, with higher levels of income, SSDI benefits may be taxed.
To be clear, state taxes also must be considered. As of 2024, 37 states do not tax SSDI benefits at all. Regardless of your income level, your SSDI benefits will not be taxed in these states. In the other 13 states, Social Security benefits may be taxed.
Employer Disability Benefits are Often Taxable
Whether or not employer disability benefits are taxable depends entirely on how the plan was purchased. With non-government disability benefits, tax liability is based on how the coverage was purchased.
More specifically, disability insurance purchased with after-tax income is not taxable. In contrast, disability insurance coverage purchased with pre-tax dollars is usually taxable. In most cases, group disability benefits obtained through an employer is, at least in part, taxable.
At what rate are your benefits taxed?
On the off chance that your inability benefits are dependent upon tax assessment because your salary is higher than the limit mentioned above, your benefits would be charged at your marginal tax rate. As it were, you would not pay taxes of 50% or 85% of your benefits, you would likely pay taxes of around 10-12% on 50%-85% of your benefits, assuming your tax rate is 10-12%. Higher-People with higher income may pay taxes of 22%-24% on 85% of their benefits.
Individual Disability: Typically Not Taxable
Disability benefits obtained through an individual plan are typically not taxable. The reason is relatively simple: Most individual disability coverage is purchased with after-tax dollars. If you purchased disability insurance on the individual market with your after-tax income, then disability benefits issued through that coverage will not be taxed.
Back Payments
A few types of disability benefits could result in back payments for the time you were incapacitated yet not accepting benefits, along with one-time death payments for the survivor of a worker receiving benefits who have died. These benefits are typically paid through the SSA in a single amount. Single amount payments for death benefits and back payments can be liable to taxes for that particular year, which could move you into a higher-income bracket and increase your amount of taxes to be paid. You might have the option to apply some back payments to earlier years if that was the timeframe for which the benefits apply. This may bring down your tax payments for the year. It ought to likewise be noticed that any profit from a part-time job while additionally getting disability benefits would be viewed as taxable pay and may affect how the disability benefits are taxed.
Additional information regarding disability benefits
Social security was intended to give a financial security net to elderly Americans and those whose disabilities kept them from making a living. Most of Social Security beneficiaries fall into the previous category. They have reached their retirement age of 62 years and have recorded to get month to month benefits dependent on the amount of money they paid into the framework during their working years. Social security disability beneficiaries do not need to be of a specific age to get benefits. However, their inability must meet the standards spread out by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Individuals getting disability benefits may need to document and may owe income taxes on their disability payments. This is accurate whether the disability payments are being received from Social Security or insurance plans or both. However, the guidelines shift among open and private benefit plans and can sometimes be complex. It is suggested that you consider recruiting a tax consultant at least for the first tax year of getting disability benefits. While most states’ tax laws will in the general mirror those of the IRS, there might be minor contrasts that ought to be checked when filing.
Since Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based program for individuals with constrained income, it is an uncommon exemption that an individual getting any part of SSI benefits would owe income tax. Individuals accepting SSI benefits, as their sole source of income would not be taxed on that benefit. You might not need to file for tax return.
It is of utmost importance that you consult a lawyer regarding the disability benefits and tax-related issues. It is common for a man to be confused and not understand the complex details and requirements of the tax system, it is recommended that you get in touch with an experienced lawyer and get all the information and advice you can get. Do not shy away from asking questions as the matter is critical and your expenses and income depend on it. Search for the right lawyer, ask your friends and family members about experienced lawyers and get in touch with them as soon as your retirement starts or before you file for disability benefits.
If you have any specific questions about disability benefits and taxes an experienced professional such as sslg.com can help. A disability lawyer can review your case, explain your options, and help you take action to protect your rights and financial interests.
