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What Is OASDI on My Paycheck?
Updated for 2026 Tax data reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources and methodology
OASDI stands for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. It is the Social Security portion of the federal payroll tax. Employers may label it OASDI, Social Security, SS, or FICA Social Security on a pay stub.
For 2026, most employees pay 6.2% of covered wages up to the annual Social Security taxable maximum of $184,500. Employers generally contribute another 6.2%. The Medicare deduction is separate, even when both taxes are grouped under the term FICA.
Open the paycheck calculator Estimate Social Security, Medicare, federal, and state withholding.
What does OASDI pay for?
OASDI funds Social Security benefits for eligible retired workers, people with qualifying disabilities, and certain family members or survivors. The amount withheld from your paycheck is a payroll tax, not a deposit into a personal savings account.
How is OASDI calculated?
For most employees below the annual wage limit:
OASDI withholding = Social Security taxable wages × 6.2%
The taxable wage amount may differ from gross pay. Certain pre-tax deductions, such as section 125 health premiums, reduce the wages subject to Social Security tax, while 401(k) contributions do not. Compare the OASDI line with the Social Security taxable wages shown on your stub.
| Annual wages | OASDI per year | Per biweekly paycheck |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,480.00 | $95.38 |
| $60,000 | $3,720.00 | $143.08 |
| $100,000 | $6,200.00 | $238.46 |
| $150,000 | $9,300.00 | $357.69 |
| $250,000 | $11,439.00 | $439.96 |
2026 rate and wage base. Above $184,500 the yearly amount stops growing, so the per-paycheck average falls once withholding stops late in the year.
Why did my OASDI deduction change?
- Your gross or taxable pay changed
- You received a bonus, commission, or overtime
- A deduction changed the wages subject to Social Security tax
- You started a new job or a new calendar year began
- Your year-to-date wages reached the $184,500 limit
If you have more than one employer, each one withholds based on the wages it pays you. If combined withholding exceeds the annual employee maximum of $11,439.00, the excess can be claimed back on your federal tax return.
Is OASDI the same as Medicare?
No. Both are federal payroll taxes, but they fund different programs and appear as separate deductions. Social Security has an annual wage limit. Medicare tax of 1.45% applies to all covered wages, and an additional 0.9% employee Medicare tax applies to wages above $200,000.
When should I ask payroll about OASDI?
Contact payroll if the deduction is missing, appears to use the wrong taxable wages, continues after your wages with that employer pass the annual limit, or changes without a matching change in pay or deductions.
Related
- Paycheck calculator
- How to read a pay stub
- Why did my paycheck go down in January?
- All pay stub guides
Sources
Educational information only, not tax, legal, or payroll advice.