Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

  • Home
  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

10 Mistakes That Reduce Your Social Security Payments

July 9, 2020 · Personal finance

8. Owing taxes or child support

If you’ve avoided taxes or child support obligations over the years you can expect the government to claim some of your benefits in order to make up for that.

In terms of owing taxes, there’s a 15% of your monthly benefits limit that the government can take. For child support, however, you can expect a cut of as much as 65%.

Needless to say, you should look for ways to pay everything back while you’re still working. During retirement, your income will be severely limited, especially if you have health issues and can’t work or if your savings aren’t great, or worse, non-existent.

If you love reminiscing about your college days, number 9 might turn them into a nightmare…..

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • Senior woman working on a laptop resting on a lap desk while seated comfortably in an armchair with an ottoman. 11 Side Gigs Perfect for Retirees With Mobility Limitations
  • A woman sits at a wooden table reviewing financial documents and account statements beside a window and bookshelf. 9 Things to Do With Inherited Retirement Accounts
  • Senior couple in a sunlit living room with large windows, one looking outside and one browsing a wooden bookshelf. 8 Reasons Retirees Are Choosing Co-Ops Over Condos
  • A smiling senior vendor weighing produce on a hanging scale for a customer at a sunny outdoor farmers market. 7 Part-Time Jobs at Farmers Markets and Local Fairs for Seniors
  • Mature man reviews Social Security paperwork and a US passport at an outdoor table overlooking a coastal European city. 7 Social Security Rules for People Who Worked Overseas
  • An older woman talks with an adult woman across a sunlit wooden table set with tea and a notepad. 10 Things Retirees Wish Their Kids Knew About Their Finances
  • A senior couple with luggage stands on an outdoor train platform, checking a travel brochure beside a passenger train. 12 Places Where Retirees Can Afford Both Rent and Travel
  • Mature woman sitting thoughtfully at a wooden table with financial papers, an open planner, glasses, and a steaming mug. 7 Retirement Account Rules That Changed Recently
  • Senior couple walking arm in arm along a brick sidewalk past a bakery, bookstore, and cafe table with coffee. 11 Signs You've Chosen the Right Retirement Town
  • Older couple reviewing tax returns and moving paperwork at a table with cardboard boxes stacked behind them. 7 Tax Surprises for Retirees Who Move Across State Lines

Newsletter

Get retirement planning tips, savings strategies, and lifestyle insights delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

An ink and watercolor illustration of a rising block graph representing lifetime earnings building a path toward retirement.

Why the Social Security Formula Rewards Longer Careers

Discover how the 35-year Social Security calculation formula rewards working longer by replacing zero-earning years…

Read More →
A senior man sitting at a wooden table examines an investment portfolio document next to a notebook and coffee mug.

4 Boring Moves To Do Now to Add Hundreds to Your Social Security Check

Learn 4 boring, proven moves to boost your monthly Social Security check by hundreds of…

Read More →

11 Ways to Improve Your Finances Before You Retire

A tablet displaying a colorful pie chart sits on a wooden table, perfect for reviewing…

Read More →

10 Things to Do for Bigger Social Security Checks

Discover 10 practical strategies to maximize your Social Security income, including delayed claiming, spousal coordination,…

Read More →

14 Tips To Make The Most Of Your Social Security Check

Make the most of free entertainment If something is for free, why not take advantage…

Read More →
Older man in a blue sweater reviewing paperwork at a table with eyeglasses and a steaming mug nearby.

11 Things Retirees Wish Their Bank Had Told Them

Discover critical banking advice retirees wish they knew, from avoiding surprise account fees and cash…

Read More →
A retired man sits at a sunlit wooden table thoughtfully reviewing an official Social Security envelope next to his reading glasses.

9 Social Security Notices You Should Never Throw Away

Protect your retirement money by saving these 9 essential Social Security notices. Learn strict deadlines,…

Read More →
An older couple sitting at a wooden table looking anxiously at paperwork spread out next to medication.

10 Things That Happen When Medical Debt Follows You Into Retirement

Learn 10 critical ways medical debt affects retirees, which assets are protected by law, and…

Read More →

13 Key Money-Management Tips Every Retiree Should Know

Stay active Being active is essential for your health, no matter your age. Given that…

Read More →
Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@retiredinamerica.com

Trust & Legal

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertiser Disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Disclaimer

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in America. All rights reserved.