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.

No Changes in COLA, SGA, etc for 2011

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

SSA Terms Defined - IRWE

IRWE = Impairment-Related Work Expenses

SSA deducts the cost of items and services that you need to work because of your impairment (e.g., attendant care services, medical devices, etc.) when they decide if you are engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). It does not matter if you also need the items for normal daily activities. They can usually deduct the cost of these same items from earned income to figure your SSI payment.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

No Change in COLA for 2010 - Increase to SGA

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will not automatically increase in 2010 as there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009. Other important 2010 Social Security information is as follows:

Maximum Taxable Earnings:	2009	2010
Social Security (OASDI only)	$106,800	$106,800*
Medicare (HI only)	No Limit

Quarter of Coverage:	2009	2010
Earnings needed to earn one Social Security credit	$1,090	$1,120

Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts:	2009	2010
Under full retirement age NOTE: One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit.	$14,160/yr. ($1,180/mo.)	$14,160/yr.* ($1,180/mo.)
The year an individual reaches full retirement age NOTE: Applies only to earnings for months prior to attaining full retirement age. One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $3 in earnings above the limit.	$37,680/yr. ($3,140/mo.)	$37,680/yr. ($3,140/mo.)
There is no limit on earnings beginning the month an individual attains full retirement age.

Social Security Disability Thresholds:		2009	2010
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)	Non-Blind	$ 980/mo.	$1000/mo.
	Blind	$1,640/mo.	$1,640/mo.*
Trial Work Period (TWP)		$ 700/mo.	$ 720/mo.

SSI Federal Payment Standard:	2009	2010
Individual	$ 674/mo.	$ 674/mo.*
Couple	$1,011/mo.	$1,011/mo.*

SSI Student Exclusion:	2009	2010
Monthly Limit	$1,640	$1,640*
Annual Limit	$6,600	$6,600*

* Because there is no COLA, by statute these amounts remain unchanged in 2010.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

Minimum Wage Increase

The minimum wage in North Dakota is currently $6.55 per hour, with an increase to $7.25 per hour scheduled to occur on July 24, 2009. North Dakota does not have a training wage. Source: Frequently Asked Questions, North Dakota Department of Labor, http://www.nd.gov/labor/faq.html#a06.

An individual who is paid the new minimum wage of $7.25 per hour will exceed the substantial gainful activity guideline of $980 per month upon working more than approximately 31.4 hours per week. That figure is the result of the following calculation: $980 per month ÷ 4.3 weeks per month ÷ $7.25 per hour = 31.44 hours per week.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com