Frequently Asked Questions about Social Security

Dec 7, 2012

Now that CNMI government employees are covered by Social Security, questions may come up periodically about the ins and outs of the system. We’ll try to provide answers here. This week’s question:

I am receiving Social Security benefits and I recently went back to work. Do I have to pay Social Security (FICA) taxes on my income?

The answer is YES. Whenever you work, your employer must withhold FICA taxes from your paycheck up to a certain amount of income. And you will receive credit for these new earnings, even though you are already retired and collecting benefits. The Social Security Administration will recalculate your benefits each year, taking into account your recent earnings. As a result, you may see your monthly benefit amount increase.

Please let us know if you have a question about Social Security.