1099-SSA - does it include the total of monthly BENEFITS from previous year or the total of monthly PAYMENTS (which are paid one month in arrears)?

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
December 4, 2023
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Social Security monthly benefits are paid one month in arrears. From their letter: "Social Security benefits for a given month are paid the following month. (For example, Social Security benefits for March are paid in April.)"

Example for this question: I started a benefit of $100 in November, which is paid in December. In this example will my 1099-SSA state I received $100 for the year (the November benefit amount paid in December) or $200 (the benefit amount for November plus the benefit amount for December? (Even though I only received a payment of $100 for the year, that is, the November benefit paid in December.)

Best answer by rjs

Form SSA-1099 shows the payments you actually received during the year. In your example, it would show $100 because that's the amount you received during the year.

xmasbaby0

Employee

Not sure why you are worried about this. All you need to do is enter your SSA1099 exactly as it appears when you enter it into the software. You do not have to do any sort of calculations yourself regarding payments in "arrears", etc.

Social Security will mail your SSA1099 in January.

Go to Federal> Wages & Income>>Retirement Plans and Social Security (SSA1099 and 1099RRB) to enter your SSA1099.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

QuestionaskerAuthor

Employee

Here is the reason I want to know the answer now to what the 1099-SSA will say when I receive it: Year end tax planning that I am doing now. In other words if the income is 2 months worth, it may kick me over a threshold that I need to stay under, whereas if it is one month I will remain below what is required to keep income within a certain limit.

I now see that the question I asked was answered above by rjs. At first I didn't see the 2nd answer. Thanks!

rjsAnswer

Employee

Form SSA-1099 shows the payments you actually received during the year. In your example, it would show $100 because that's the amount you received during the year.