Social Security and Medicare

Overview

This course provides the knowledge needed to explain the basic structure of the Social Security system to clients and offer additional resources for further information. It covers the steps involved in applying for Social Security benefits and outlines the health insurance benefits available under Medicare.

The course includes strategies for helping married couples maximize their benefits and offers planning guidance on the optimal time to begin withdrawals. It also addresses the implications of divorce on benefits, including eligibility, benefit calculations, and survivor benefit qualifications.

Participants will explore various scenarios to better understand how changes in earnings affect benefits. The course includes updates on Social Security for 2025, including new terminology, enrollment procedures, and information on dependent and survivor benefits. It also provides a general understanding of benefit reductions, taxability, benefit categories, and qualification rules, along with the ability to estimate benefits and explain the impact of life changes such as divorce or death.

Prerequisites

None.

Designed For

CPAs and other business professionals

Objectives

This course is the answer for any and all Social Security questions. Beginning with an overview of facts, taxability and benefits, examine the individual rules to calculate benefits, when to draw, how to qualify and the tax inter-related aspects of these decisions. Discuss survivor and divorce benefits, children and other dependents, and disability. The course concludes with an in-depth and up-to-date explanation of Medicare.