Are Social Security and Medicare benefits considered income and are they taxable?

Question

Are Social Security and Medicare benefits considered income and are they taxable?

Answer 1

they are not earned income,but a portion of s.s. may be taxable if your income is over 32,000 and are filing a joint return.

Answer 2

Medicare benefits are not taxable.

Social Security benefits are not taxable as long as the benefits are the only income of the taxpayer.  However, if the taxpayer is unmarried, and:

Other income + 1/2 SS benefits

is more than $25,000, then some of the SS benefits are taxable income.  The amount that is taxable can go as high as 85% of the benefits.

If the taxpayer is married and files a joint return, the above number is $32,000.

Answer 3

Medicare benefits, no, not income and not taxable.

SS is income, and up to 85% of the benefits might be taxable, depending on what other income you have.  If you have little or no other income, the ss isn't taxed.

Answer 4

Also, a portion of social security earnings may be taxable if your income is over $25,000 and you are filing an individual return.

Answer 5

No, they are not.