50+ Lifestyles

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY Davenport, Iowa Office

By Pam Shaw
Social Security District Manager
Davenport Social Security Office

GUARD YOUR CARD: PROTECT WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU
We encourage you not to carry your Social Security card with you every day. The best way to “Guard Your Card” is to keep it in a safe place and share it only when required. In fact, in most cases, just knowing the Social Security number should be enough. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, a Social Security card isn’t required to request a Real ID. Only Pennsylvania requires it.

Please be careful about sharing your number when asked for it. You should always ask why your number is needed, how it will be used, and what will happen if you refuse. Also, you shouldn’t carry documents that display your number.

If you need a replacement Social Security card, we make it easy. You may be able to use a personal my Social Security account to request a replacement on our website. If you live in one of 46 participating states or the District of Columbia, and are requesting a replacement card with no changes, like a name change, you can use our free online service at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/replace-ment-card.html.

Visit our Social Security

Number and Card page at www.ssa.gov/ssnumber to learn more about your Social Security card.

Please read our factsheet, How You Can Help Us Protect Your Social Security Number and Keep Your Information Safe, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10220.pdf

Our Guard Your Card infographic at, www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/assets/-EN-05-10553.pdf, is another great resource to understand whether you need to show your card.

Please share these resources with your friends, and family – and post them on social media.

WORKERS IN YOUR HOME AND SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES
Do you plan to pay a cleaning person, cook, gardener, babysitter, or other household worker at least $2,400 in 2022? If you will pay at least $2,400 to one person during the year, which may include transportation, meals, and housing, you have additional financial responsibilities to consider.
When you pay at least $2,400 in wages to a household worker, you must do all of the following:

• Deduct Social Security and Medicare taxes from those wages.
• Pay these taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.
• Report the wages to Social Security.

Accurate reporting is important as employees earn credits toward Social Security benefits and Medicare coverage. You can currently earn Social Security or Medicare credit for every $1,510 in wages that are reported. Generally, people need 10 years of work to qualify for:

• Retirement benefits (as early as age 62).
• Disability benefits for the worker and the worker’s dependents.
• Survivors benefits for the worker’s family.
• You can learn more about reporting household worker income by reading Household Workers www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10021.pdf.