Recipients of old-age benefits with incomes of more than $25,000/year and couples with incomes of more than $32,000/year must pay federal income taxes on a portion of their old-age benefits. For the record, at the outset of the Social Security program, the federal government published an informational pamphlet that stated the following with regard to old-age benefits: "You will get them regardless of the amount of property or income you may have."