Medicare — 2026 Premiums & IRMAA
All data from Medicare.gov and CMS.gov
Standard Medicare Part B Premium
IRMAA Threshold (Single)
| 2024 MAGI (Individual) | 2024 MAGI (Married) | Part B Monthly Surcharge | Part D Monthly Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ $106,000 | ≤ $212,000 | $0 (standard $185) | $0 |
| $106,001 – $129,000 | $212,001 – $258,000 | $74.90/mo | $13.70/mo |
| $129,001 – $161,000 | $258,001 – $322,000 | $187.40/mo | $35.30/mo |
| $161,001 – $193,000 | $322,001 – $386,000 | $299.90/mo | $57.00/mo |
| $193,001 – $499,999 | $386,001 – $749,999 | $412.40/mo | $78.60/mo |
| ≥ $500,000 | ≥ $750,000 | $443.90/mo | $86.40/mo |
IRMAA surcharges on top of standard $185/mo Part B premium. Based on 2024 MAGI. Appeal with Form SSA-44 for life-changing events. Source: Medicare.gov Part B Premiums
📌 Federal Employees: FEHB + Medicare Coordination
Most federal retirees with FEHB should enroll in Medicare Part B at 65. With FEHB as primary and Medicare as secondary, cost-sharing is typically eliminated. The annual Part B premium ($2,220) is usually offset by reduced out-of-pocket costs. See OPM guidance on FEHB + Medicare →
Required Minimum Distributions — 2026 Rules
All data from IRS.gov RMD Rules
RMD Starting Age (SECURE 2.0 Act)
First RMD Deadline
Penalty for Missing RMD
| Birth Year | RMD Starting Age | First RMD Year | RMD Account Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 or earlier | 72 | 2022 or earlier | Traditional IRA, 401k, 403b |
| 1951 | 73 | 2024 | Traditional IRA, 401k, 403b |
| 1952–1959 | 73 | 2025–2032 | Traditional IRA, 401k, 403b |
| 1960 or later | 75 | 2035+ | Traditional IRA, 401k, 403b |
📌 Roth IRA — No RMDs During Your Lifetime
Contributory Roth IRAs have no Required Minimum Distributions for the original owner. However, Roth 401k accounts DO have RMDs unless you're still employed and the plan allows in-service distributions. Convert Roth 401k to Roth IRA to avoid RMDs. See IRS RMD guidance →
⚠️ 2026 Tax Treatment of RMDs
All traditional IRA and 401k RMDs are taxed as ordinary income in the year received. Consider doing Roth conversions in years when your income is temporarily lower (e.g., between retirement and starting RMDs, or in a gap year) to reduce your lifetime RMD tax burden. Each dollar converted reduces future RMDs.
Federal Income Tax Brackets — 2026
All data from IRS 2026 Inflation Adjustments
Standard Deduction (Married Filing Jointly)
Long-Term Capital Gains Rate (Top)
SS Benefits — Max Taxable (85%)
| Rate | Single Filers — Taxable Income | Married Filing Jointly — Taxable Income |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,600 | $0 – $23,200 |
| 12% | $11,601 – $47,150 | $23,201 – $94,300 |
| 22% | $47,151 – $100,525 | $94,301 – $201,050 |
| 24% | $100,526 – $191,950 | $201,051 – $383,900 |
| 32% | $191,951 – $243,700 | $383,901 – $487,450 |
| 35% | $243,701 – $609,350 | $487,451 – $731,200 |
| 37% | Over $609,350 | Over $731,200 |
Retirement Contribution Limits — 2026
All data from IRS 2026 Adjustments
| Account Type | 2026 Limit | 2025 Limit | Change | Catch-Up (50+) | Super Catch-Up (60-63) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401k / 403b / 457 | $23,500 | $23,000 | +$500 | +$7,500 → $31,000 | +$11,250 → $34,750 |
| IRA (Traditional & Roth) | $7,000 | $7,000 | No change | +$1,000 → $8,000 | +$1,000 → $8,000 |
| HSA — Individual | $4,300 | $4,150 | +$150 | N/A | N/A |
| HSA — Family | $8,550 | $8,300 | +$250 | N/A | N/A |
| SIMPLE IRA / 401k | $16,500 | $16,000 | +$500 | +$3,500 → $20,000 | N/A |
| Health FSA | $3,200 | $3,100 | +$100 | N/A | N/A |
| Dependent Care FSA | $5,000 | $5,000 | No change | N/A | N/A |
| DC Medicaid/Benefit Limit | $66,000 | $64,750 | +$1,250 | N/A | N/A |
📌 New: SECURE 2.0 "Super Catch-Up" for Ages 60–63
Starting in 2025, participants aged 60–63 can contribute an additional $11,250 to 401k/403b/457 plans — a 150% boost vs. the standard $7,500 catch-up. For example, a 61-year-old can contribute up to $34,750 to their 401k in 2026 (vs. $31,000 for those 50+). This is the highest catch-up ever offered. See IRS 2026 adjustments →
💡 TSP vs. 401k — Federal Employees
TSP limits apply separately from any private-sector 401k. If you have both a private-sector 401k AND a TSP, you must stay under each plan's individual limit. The TSP 2026 limit is also $23,500 (same as 401k), with catch-up of $7,500 for those 50+ and $11,250 for ages 60-63. See TSP contribution limits →
FERS Basic Annuity Multiplier
of high-3 × years
FERS Supplement (FSP) — Bridge Payment
TSP Annual Contribution
FEHB — Medicare Part B Coordination
| Survivor Benefit Option | Cost (Monthly Premium) | What Surviving Spouse Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Election (Default) | 10% of unreduced annuity | 55% of annuity + full FSP + all COLAs |
| Option B — Full | 2.5% of unreduced annuity × years to FRA (max 40%) | Full annuity (100%) + FSP + all COLAs |
| Option C — 50% | 5% of unreduced annuity × years to FRA (max 10%) | 50% of annuity (no FSP, reduced COLA) |
Source: OPM — Survivor Benefit Elections
📌 CSRS vs. FERS — Key Differences
CSRS (pre-1984 employees): Multiplier is 1.5%–2% depending on service. No FERS Supplement. No SSA Offset. FERS (post-1983 employees): 1% multiplier + FSP (if eligible) + Social Security component. FERS employees should claim their own Social Security at 62–70 while receiving FERS annuity + FSP bridge + TSP distributions.
📬 Get Updates When Rules Change
SSA, CMS, and IRS release new data every year — often in October/November for the following year. Subscribe and we'll update this page and email you the changes.
Data sources last verified: May 22, 2026. Primary sources: SSA.gov · Medicare.gov / CMS.gov · IRS.gov · OPM.gov · TSP.gov. This page is a living document — bookmark it and check back annually for updates.
📖 Government Sources Referenced on This Page
- SSA.gov — Benefit Rate Fact Sheet · COLA, bend points, FRA tables, reduction factors
- SSA.gov — Earnings Test · $23,520 exemption amount for 2026
- Medicare.gov — 2026 Costs at a Glance · Part B premium $185, Part B deductible $257
- Medicare.gov — IRMAA Brackets 2026 · Income-related Part B surcharges by MAGI tier
- IRS — 2026 Tax Inflation Adjustments · Tax brackets, standard deduction, contribution limits
- IRS — RMD Rules · RMD starting ages, calculation methods, penalties
- OPM — FERS Basic Annuity · 1% multiplier, high-3 calculation, FERS Supplement rules
- OPM — Survivor Benefits · Basic, B, and C survivor election options and costs
- TSP.gov — 2026 Contribution Limits · $23,500 regular, catch-up amounts, super catch-up ages
- CMS.gov — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Official source for all Medicare premium announcements
Social Security — 2026 Rules
All data from SSA.gov Benefit Facts
2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
Average Monthly Benefit (All Retirees)
Earnings Test Exemption (Under FRA)
Year You Can Claim 100% Benefits (FRA)
📌 How Early & Late Claiming Affects Benefits
Claiming at age 62 (earliest): up to 30% reduction from your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Each month before your FRA reduces benefits by 5/9 of 1%. Delaying to age 70 (latest): up to 32% increase via the 8% per year delayed credit. Source: SSA Benefit Reduction/Increase factors
💡 SSA Bend Points — 2026 PIA Formula
Your PIA is calculated using bend points that change annually with wage growth. For 2026, bend point 1 ≈ $1,162 (90% of AIME up to this) and bend point 2 ≈ $6,972 (32% of AIME between points 1 and 2, then 15% above point 2). Your benefits are 90%/32%/15% of your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings across these tiers. See full bend point table →
🗺️ State Taxation of Social Security
37 states exempt Social Security benefits from state income tax (fully or partially). 13 states tax SS benefits as regular income. DC also taxes SS. Check your state at the SSA State Taxation guide.