[Nfbmo] 2010 Social Security amounts

[Eugene Coulter]

Below you will find a link  to the Braille Monitor article on  changes in Social Security benefits for 2010.
Also there have been some changes to receive  "Extra Help" in paying your Medicare Part D announced just today in an Email from Social Security.
The Part D changes are minor but may effect someone.
First, life insurance policies no longer count against the resource limit.
Second, if you receive help in paying your living expenses from an outside source, such as friends and family that income is no longer countable.

The nutshell for SSA benefits is:
earnings limit remains $1640.00
the amount required to use up a month of your trial work period increases from $700.00 to $720.00
Medicare premiums increase from $96.40 to $110.50 (However, most of us will pay only $96.40 as SSA law states that increases in Medicare premiums cannot result in a reduction in net benefits paid)
Cost of living increase  for 2010 in benefit amount is 0%.
To earn a quarter of coverage      the amount  increased from $1090.00 to $1120.00. So, earnings of $4480.00 or more anytime in a calendar year will give an individual credit for 4 quarters
SSI amounts are unchanged

Here is the link:
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm09/bm0911/bm091116.htm

Hope this information is helpful
Gene Coulter, Social Services Liaison
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri