Final answer:
This question involves calculating the net pay after taxes and deductions, using percentages for federal income, social security, and medicare taxes, and exploring the trade-offs Susan faces between working hours and government benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to personal finance, specifically the calculation of net pay after various deductions and taxes. To solve problems like these, a clear understanding of percentage calculations is needed, along with knowledge of taxation and benefit reductions based on income. For Maria's net pay, deductions such as the federal income tax, social security tax, medicare tax, and health insurance premiums must be subtracted from her gross monthly salary. The rates given include a social security deduction of 6.2%, a medicare tax of 1.45%, and a general assumption of federal and state taxes being 15% of gross annual income. Additionally, Susan's scenario requires understanding how income affects government benefits and how this influence could impact her incentive to work more hours. She will need to balance her earnings with the reduction in government support, where every dollar earned reduces her benefits by a dollar.
Moreover, the payroll taxes for Social Security are imposed at a rate of 12.4%, up to a wage limit, and for Medicare, it's a fixed rate of 2.9% with no upper ceiling. These rates are crucial for understanding deductions from gross income to ascertain net income. The question also highlights the progressive nature of the federal income tax system and the regressive nature of payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare.