What is OASDI on your paycheck?
Last verified 2026-11-02 · Sources: IRS Publication 15 (2026) · Report an error
OASDI stands for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. It is the Social Security half of FICA: 6.20% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026. The other half is Medicare.
OASDI and Medicare on your pay
Enter gross pay for one period to see the two lines split out, including the point where OASDI stops for the year.
| Line | Per paycheck | Per month |
|---|
What the acronym means
The full name is Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. It is the trust-fund program that pays retirement, survivor and disability benefits. Payroll systems use the acronym because that is the legal name of the tax, while employees know the program as Social Security.
OASDI, FICA and Medicare: how the labels relate
| Label on your stub | What it is | 2026 rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| OASDI / Social Security | Retirement, survivors and disability | 6.20% | $184,500 |
| Medicare | Hospital insurance | 1.45% | No cap |
| FICA | The two lines above, added together | 7.65% | Mixed |
Why the same tax has different names
Payroll providers label the line differently. Some print FICA as one number, some split it into OASDI and Medicare, and some use Social Security instead of OASDI. The amount is the same either way. If two stubs from different employers disagree on the label but agree on the rate, nothing is wrong.
The wage base is the part people miss
OASDI applies only up to $184,500 of wages per employer per calendar year. After that the line disappears until January. Medicare has no such limit, which is why the Medicare line keeps appearing on a December paycheck when OASDI does not.
Frequently asked questions
- Is OASDI the same as Social Security?
- Yes. OASDI is the legal name of the Social Security payroll tax: Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. The rate and the wage base are the Social Security ones.
- Is OASDI the same as FICA?
- No. FICA is the pair: OASDI plus Medicare. OASDI is the larger part at 6.2%, Medicare is 1.45%.
- Why is OASDI not taken out of my last paycheck?
- Because your year-to-date wages passed the wage base. OASDI stops at that point for the rest of the calendar year, while Medicare continues.
- Do I pay OASDI on a second job?
- Yes, each employer applies the wage base separately. If the two jobs together push you past the base, too much may be withheld and the excess is claimed on your return.