[Ohio-talk] FW: Social Security Announces 1.5 Benefit Increase for 2014--NEWS RELEASE

[Suzanne Turner]

Below is information on the Work limit, SSI payments and TWP for those who wish to start working  for 2014 and other information.  Please read to its entirety.  Sorry, but information is coming fast!

Suzanne

From: Leeds, Elizabeth [mailto:Elizabeth.Leeds at ssa.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 11:18 AM
To: Leeds, Elizabeth
Subject: FW: Social Security Announces 1.5 Benefit Increase for 2014--NEWS RELEASE




Wednesday, October 30, 2013
For Immediate Release

Carmen M. Moreno, Regional Communications Director
312-575-4050
chi.rpa at ssa.gov<mailto:chi.rpa at ssa.gov>


[cid:9335e76c-d5fa-4e1b-994d-e4012372910e]
News Release
SOCIAL SECURITY


Social Security Announces 1.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2014

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 63 million Americans will increase 1.5 percent in 2014, the Social Security Administration announced today.
The 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 57 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2014.  Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2013.
Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages.  Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $117,000 from $113,700.  Of the estimated 165 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2014, about 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.
Information about Medicare changes for 2014 is available at www.Medicare.gov<http://www.medicare.gov/>.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated.  To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola<http://www.socialsecurity.gov/cola>.

# # #


2014 SOCIAL SECURITY CHANGES

  o     Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA):
Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2012 through the third quarter of 2013, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 1.5 percent COLA for 2014.  Other important 2014 Social Security information is as follows:

2013    2014
  o     Tax Rate:
Employee          7.65%    7.65%
Self-Employed   15.30%  15.30%
        NOTE:  The 7.65% tax rate is the combined rate for Social Security and Medicare.  The Social Security portion (OASDI) is 6.20% on earnings up to the applicable taxable maximum amount (see below).  The Medicare portion (HI) is 1.45% on all earnings. Also, as of January 2013, individuals with earned income of more than $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) pay an additional 0.9 percent in Medicare taxes. The tax rates shown above do not include the 0.9 percent.

  o     Maximum Taxable Earnings:
        Social Security (OASDI only)     $113,700                $117,000
Medicare (HI only)              N o    L i m i t

  o     Quarter of Coverage:
$1,160   $1,200

o       Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts:
Under full retirement age                       $15,120/yr.              $15,480/yr.
                        ($1,260/mo.)             ($1,290/mo.)
        NOTE:  One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit.

The year an individual reaches full             $40,080/yr.             $41,400/yr.
  retirement age                                ($3,340/mo.)            ($3,450/mo.)
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.

          There is no limit on earnings beginning the month an individual attains full retirement age.

o       Social Security Disability Thresholds:

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
Non-Blind                               $1,040/mo.              $1,070/mo.
Blind                                   $1,740/mo.              $1,800/mo.
Trial Work Period (TWP)                            $   750/mo.           $   770/mo.

  o     Maximum Social Security Benefit:  Worker Retiring at Full Retirement Age:
                                                            $2,533/mo.                   $2,642/mo.

  o     SSI Federal Payment Standard:
Individual      $  710/mo.              $  721/mo.
Couple  $1,066/mo.              $1,082/mo.

  o     SSI Resources Limits:
        Individual      $2,000                  $2,000
Couple  $3,000                  $3,000

o       SSI Student Exclusion:
        Monthly limit           $1,730                      $1,750
        Annual limit            $6,960                  $7,060

o       Estimated Average Monthly Social Security Benefits Payable in January 2014:

Before  After
1.5% COLA       1.5% COLA
All Retired Workers     $1,275  $1,294
        Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits    $2,080  $2,111
Widowed Mother and Two Children $2,583           $2,622
Aged Widow(er) Alone    $1,225           $1,243
        Disabled Worker, Spouse and     $1,914           $1,943
One or More Children
All Disabled Workers    $1,131           $1,148





Suzanne Turner, BSW, MPA
Employment Coordinator and Benefit Specialist

Cleveland Sight Center
216-791-8118 (main)
216-658-7350 (direct)
216-791-1101 (fax)
sturner at ClevelandSightCenter.org <mailto:sturner at ClevelandSightCenter.org>

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P.O. Box 1988
Cleveland, Ohio  44106-0188

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