Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) 2014

Important Changes in Social Security for 2014

·Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The 2014 SGA guideline is $1800 for persons who are blind and $1070 for persons with disabilities other than blindness. In 2013, SGA for persons who are blind was $1740 and  $1040 for persons with disabilities other than blindness.

· Trial Work Period (TWP) Months. The earnings amount to determine if the month is counted as a TWP month went from $750 in 2013 to $770 per month in 2014.

· Federal Benefit Rate (FBR).  The highest SSI payment amount an individual could receive per month in 2013 was $710. This changed to $721 in 2014. For eligible couples, this amount was $1066 in 2013 and was raised to $1082 for 2014.

· Student Earned-Income Exclusion (SEIE).  To qualify for SEIE, an SSI recipient must be under the age of 22, regularly attending school, and working. The amount of earnings that may be excluded in 2014 is $7060 per year or $1750 per month.

· The earnings needed to earn one Social Security Credit (quarter of coverage) is $1200 in 2014.

· Information about Medicare changes for 2014 is available at www.Medicare.gov.

· A complete listing of all 2014 Social Security changes can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2014.html.