Every year the Social Security Administration
(“SSA”) makes several changes to the monetary thresholds associated with Social
Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) and Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”)
benefits. It is important to know about these changes, so you are in compliance
with SSA’s requirements.
1. SSA beneficiaries will receive a 0.3 Cost-Of-Living-Adjustment
(“COLA”).
All people receiving any type of Social
Security benefit will see a 0.3 increase to their monthly deposits in 2017. It
may not seem like much, but there have been recent years in which SSA provided
no COLA at all because the Consumer Price index didn’t justify it. At least 2017 beneficiaries will see a slight
increase.
2. SSA has increased the threshold value for
full-time work.
In order to be found disabled under SSA’s
definition of disability, you must be able to prove that you are unable to earn
a certain monetary value due to the limitations from your disability. This value is referred to as “Substantial Gainful
Activity (“SGA”). If you are able to work at SGA levels, SSA will not consider
you to be disabled. For 2017, that monthly rate is $1,170.00 for a non-blind
individual and $1,950.00 for a blind individual. Thus, if you are able to earn
such monthly earnings, in spite of any impairment that you have, then you are
not disabled under SSA’s definition of disability.
3. SSA has increased the amount that a person can
earn during a Trial Work Period.
SSA allows SSDI recipients to test their
ability to work in a program called a Trial Work Period (“TWP”). During a TWP,
a SSDI recipient is able to work for 9 month period without being at risk for
losing his/her benefits. These months do not have to be consecutive.
Specifically, SSA looks to see whether an individual can earn at certain levels
over a rolling 60 month period. If a person exceeds certain monetary levels for
9 months (even if not consecutive) over a 5 year period, then the TWP has been
exhausted. SSA will then look to see if a person has exceeded SGA values (see
above) to determine whether or not, the person is still under a disability. For
2017, SSA will consider any month in which a SSDI recipient earns more than $840.00
to be a month in which goods and services have been performed at a TWP level.
4. SSA has increased the value of a quarter of
coverage.
In order to receive SSDI benefits, you must be
insured for benefits. This means you must have paid into the Social Security
system through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”). An individual must have worked a
sufficient amount of quarters to be entitled to these benefits. Every year a
person can earn up to 4 quarters. For 2017, one quarter of coverage is $1,300.00.
This means you must earn at least $5,200.00 for 2017 in order to obtain all 4
quarters for the year.
For more information, please see:
Got a question about SSDI or SSI that you need
us to answer? Please check out our website at www.westcoastdisability.com . We try to provide you with helpful
information on our website that will allow you to successfully navigate the
Social Security Disability process. Also, feel free to email me your questions
at megan@westcoastdisability.com or
call me at (800) 459-3017 x 103.
