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SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:58 am
by STABAC
Should we be fortunate enough to get any compensation does any one know do you have to report it to the Social Security Admin if you are on SS? Also do you have to enter it any where on your Tax form?
I've been told by a VSO that you cash the check and tell no one; sounds risky to me as far as penalties or tax/social security fraud, however it sounds too good to be true.
Those ba$tards have ways of prying into your life and discovering every thing about you.
Frank

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:26 am
by ExIntrepid
Jeez, Stab; no, you don't have to tell Social Security about VA money, or the other way around. They're unrelated and they don't care, period. They don't even have forms that ask the question. Hell, don't give them any ideas, they're gonna be looking for money, soon.

Further, unless you have other taxable income, you do not need to file a tax return. If your only income is SSDI and/or VA checks; neither of them are taxed, period.

Your VSO was absolutely right, he was just a bit over-dramatic about it.

If you fill out a 1040A, and read it carefully, it tells you right there in the book that you don't have to file. The only time I filed since 1994 when my SSDI started was when Rose worked; since 2000, she hasen't been able to work even part-time. I did file in 2007/8 for the $250 'rebate' check, but I didn't and won't last year or this one.

—ExIntrepid

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:36 am
by STABAC
Thanks Exie, I was hoping someone with first hand experience would respond ......MUMS the word.

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:02 am
by ExIntrepid
Aaah, not so much 'Mum' as 'None of your damned business!'.

Hell, when they sent someone for the 2000 census, I told'em there was 2 people living here, and that was IT!

Mrs. ExIntrepid says I'm a natural-born 'curmudgeon'.

I gotta get me a ball-cap with that written on it. In big ol' capital letters.

—ExIntrepid

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:12 pm
by daklander
ExIntrepid wrote:......

Mrs. ExIntrepid says I'm a natural-born 'curmudgeon'.

I gotta get me a ball-cap with that written on it. In big ol' capital letters.

—ExIntrepid



Nah, I don't think you necessarily fit the true definition of a curmudgeon. There's a "resident curmudgeon" on another vet site who fits the description to a tee.

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:04 pm
by gunlineman1
Naw Dak, A$$ - :lol: Hole is more like it !!!

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:15 pm
by johnr
ExIntrepid wrote:Aaah, not so much 'Mum' as 'None of your damned business!'.

Hell, when they sent someone for the 2000 census, I told'em there was 2 people living here, and that was IT!

Mrs. ExIntrepid says I'm a natural-born 'curmudgeon'.

I gotta get me a ball-cap with that written on it. In big ol' capital letters.

—ExIntrepid


Speaking of baseball caps.... Next week the Ship's Store will have baseball caps with the embroidered BWN patch sewn on the front. They're beautiful! Stand by, they're a MUST for the Spring sunshine.

-JR

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:22 pm
by johnr
ExIntrepid wrote:Jeez, Stab; no, you don't have to tell Social Security about VA money, or the other way around. They're unrelated and they don't care, period. They don't even have forms that ask the question. Hell, don't give them any ideas, they're gonna be looking for money, soon.

Further, unless you have other taxable income, you do not need to file a tax return. If your only income is SSDI and/or VA checks; neither of them are taxed, period.

Your VSO was absolutely right, he was just a bit over-dramatic about it.

If you fill out a 1040A, and read it carefully, it tells you right there in the book that you don't have to file. The only time I filed since 1994 when my SSDI started was when Rose worked; since 2000, she hasen't been able to work even part-time. I did file in 2007/8 for the $250 'rebate' check, but I didn't and won't last year or this one.

—ExIntrepid



There's some twists and turns with SSDI:
"SSDI benefits may be taxable depending on your total family taxable income. For example, a person filing as an "individual" with a combined income between $25,000 and $34,000 would have to pay income taxes on 50% of the SSDI benefits. If the combined income is more than $34,000 then 85% of the SSDI benefit is taxable. You should consult with an experienced tax expert when your claim is approved to make certain that you plan for any tax liabilities."

-JR

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:31 pm
by STABAC
When you say income are you referring to other income(earned) or SSDI? My wife and I are both on SSDI and make slightly more than $34,000.00, so 85% of our SSDI is subject to taxes? I will definitely go to a Tax attorney.

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:53 pm
by johnr
STABAC wrote:When you say income are you referring to other income(earned) or SSDI? My wife and I are both on SSDI and make slightly more than $34,000.00, so 85% of our SSDI is subject to taxes? I will definitely go to a Tax attorney.


Heck, I just cut and pasted that from something I was reading... trust me, you'd be in much better hands with a Tax attorney : - ) ... 'cept I probably don't charge as much.

-JR

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:11 pm
by STABAC
And here after all these years I thought you knew what you were talking about, John. MY, MY, MY such a disappointment :lol:
Frank

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:26 am
by ExIntrepid
Dug out the 2008 1040A form, read the section again:

None of the compensation for SSDI (note: that's Social Security DISABILITY, not regular SSI) OR VA Disability Compensation is subject to taxes, even if you have other income that IS subject to taxes; the form does not add those fingures in as income. Just has a box to report it.

Further, If you earn less than $6,000 of taxable income, none of THAT was taxable, that year.

Now remember: That applies to 2007 and 2008, I haven't recieved the tax forms for 2009 yet, and considering the midnight sessions of congress last year, there's no telling yet what the Amateur President or his Historically Corrupt congress slid through in the dark of night.

I would get the forms and read them carefully, but from all I have been able to gather to date, the Democrats missed screwing that pooch, so far.

Note also, that since the Clinton years, there's precedent for RETROACTIVELY taxing Social Security. As of now, Veterans Compensation is still inviolate.

As of now, that is ... who the hell knows down the line.

Sigh...

BTW: Go easy on JR, Stab. Lawyering is 80% convincing someone you know what you're doing; it's as natural as breathing.... (Grin!)

—ExIntrepid

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:33 am
by STABAC
Thanks Exie I'll check the form when I get mine.

Now a comment for all the new members we've gotten recently (you, Exie will I hope remember me saying this awhile back). When ever you see a post from ExIntrepid the first thing you'll (I) notice is My God that's a long one, I don't want to read all that. BUT, as I've posted to Exie I read every word. The man has a way with words and a lot of experience and knowledge, read all his posts they are well worth the time.
Frank

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:50 am
by Mac
[quote="STABAC"]Should we be fortunate enough to get any compensation does any one know do you have to report it to the Social Security Admin if you are on SS? Also do you have to enter it any where on your Tax form?
I've been told by a VSO that you cash the check and tell no one; sounds risky to me as far as penalties or tax/social security fraud, however it sounds too good to be true.
Those ba$tards have ways of prying into your life and discovering every thing about you.
Frank[/quote



VA Comp. is not taxable thats the bottom line. But yeah it all makes you sort of nervous , I understand.

Re: SOCIAL SECURITY AND COMPENSATION

PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:25 am
by ExIntrepid
STABAC wrote:Now a comment for all the new members we've gotten recently (you, Exie will I hope remember me saying this awhile back). When ever you see a post from ExIntrepid the first thing you'll (I) notice is My God that's a long one, I don't want to read all that. BUT, as I've posted to Exie I read every word. The man has a way with words and a lot of experience and knowledge, read all his posts they are well worth the time.
Frank


Aw, hell, Stab; spare me my blushes!

The Brilliant and Beautiful Mrs. ExIntrepid says it's because of the five years of putting up with my blank, thousand-yard-stares whilst I was gettin' paid to write MVS/JES2 JCL, Neat3/NeatVS, REXX, Clists, COBOL, C+, C++, VSAM strings, etc, etc...

She kept me sane while wiping the drool ... Ick!

Then, for the next five years she hadda keep her hands over the delicate ears of Little Miss ExIntrepid to delete expletives whilst I wrote Policies and Procedures for a certain unnamed and now blessedly defunct Savings & Loan. It took me two years of trying before I could stop talking in third-person passive voice. SHE recommended Electro-Shock Therapy, but I managed to avoid the necessity.

So, aside from my desire to be thorogh, the length is kinda trained in; you know, like those flatworms the psychologists use. I'm really, really much better now...

Upshot being, we've hit about every standard bump along the road in this process, and if by writing about it helps a shipmate avoid some of said bumps, I've paid my dues.

The humor is just my way of assuaging the desire to bite myself in the middle of my back...

—ExIntrepid