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Social Security Press Release: Social Security Announces 1.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2013

Category: General Medicare
Published: Oct, 16 2012 02:10:56
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Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the Social Security Administration announced today.

The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013.  Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012.

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 $113,700 from $110,100.  Of the estimated 163 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.

Information about Medicare changes for 2013, when announced, will be available at www.Medicare.gov.  For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. 

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated.  To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

###


Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Press Office
For Immediate Release 410-965-8904
  press.office@ssa.gov

2013 Social Security Changes

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): (from SSA Fact Sheet)

 

Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2011 through the third quarter of 2012, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 1.7 percent COLA for 2013. Other important 2013 Social Security information is as follows:

 
Tax Rate:
 2012 2013
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.
* The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 reduced the Social Security payroll tax rate by 2% on the portion of the tax paid by the worker through the end of February 2012.  The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 extended the reduction through the end of 2012.  Under current law, this temporary reduction expires at the end of December 2012.
 
 
Maximum Taxable Earnings:
 
 2012 2013
Social Security (OASDI only) $110,100 $113,700
Medicare (HI only) N o   L i m i t
 
 
Quarter of Coverage:
 
 2012 2013

 Earnings needed to earn one Social Security Credit

 $1,130 $1,160
 
 
Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts:
 
 2012 2013

 Under full retirement age

 NOTE: One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit.

 $14,640/yr.
($1,220/mo.)		 $15,120/yr.
($1,260/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.

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

 $38,880/yr.
($3,240/mo.)		 $40,080/yr.
($3,340/mo.)
 
 
Social Security Disability Thresholds:
 
 2012 2013

 Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
     Non-Blind
     Blind
$1,010/mo.
$1,690/mo.
$1,040/mo.
$1,740/mo.
Trial Work Period (TWP) $720/mo. $750/mo.
 
 
Maximum Social Security Benefit: Worker Retiring at Full Retirement Age:
 
 2012 2013
  $2,513/mo. $2,533/mo.
 
 
SSI Federal Payment Standard:
 
 2012 2013
Individual $698/mo. $710/mo.
Couple $1,048/mo. $1,066/mo.
 
 
SSI Resources Limits:
 
 2012 2013
Individual $2,000 $2,000
Couple $3,000 $3,000
 
 
SSI Student Exclusion:
 
 2012 2013
Monthly limit $1,700 $1,730
Annual limit $6,840 $6,960
 
 
Estimated Average Monthly Social Security Benefits Payable in January 2013:
 
 Before
1.7% COLA		 After
1.7% COLA
All Retired Workers $1,240 $1,261
Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits $2,014 $2,048
Widowed Mother and Two Children $2,549 $2,592
Aged Widow(er) Alone $1,194 $1,214
Disabled Worker, Spouse and One or More Children $1,887 $1,919
All Disabled Workers $1,113 $1,132



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