Human Resources
Finance & Administration

Social Security and Medicare

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In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law.  Among other provisions, the Act created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.

The Social Security Act has been amended many times since then, but it continues to provide retired workers with a reliable source of income after retirement. It also provides retired workers with access to medical insurance under the Medicare provisions.

Social Security and Medicare are administered by the federal government. They are funded by payroll taxes imposed on workers and employers.

Lehigh University and its employees share the cost of Social Security and Medicare taxes. These taxes are based on a percentage of earnings paid to employees and are paid by both the employee and the University. The current rates are:

  • Social Security - 6.20 percent of earnings up to $142,800 per year
  • Medicare - 1.45 percent of earnings (no limit on earnings)

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