Social Security Administration 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are announcing that the assessment percentage rate under sections 206(d) and 1631(d)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (Act), 42 U.S.C. 406(d) and 1383(d)(2)(C), is 6.3 percent for 2013.

In accordance with 20 CFR 402.35(b)(2), 404.985(e)(1) and 416.1485(e)(1), the Commissioner of Social Security gives notice of the rescission of Social Security Acquiescence Ruling (AR) 05-1(9).

Under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), there will be a 1.7 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective December 2012. As a result of this increase, the following items will increase for 2013: (1) The maximum Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly benefit amounts for 2013 under title XVI of the Act will be $710 for an eligible individual, $1,066 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $356 for an essential person; (2) The special benefit amount under title VIII of the Act for certain World War II veterans will be $532.50 for 2013; (3) The student earned income exclusion under title XVI of the Act will be $1,730 per month in 2013, but not more than $6,960 for all of 2013; (4) The dollar fee limit for services performed as a representative payee will be $39 per month ($76 per month in the case of a beneficiary who is disabled and has an alcoholism or drug addiction condition that leaves him or her incapable of managing benefits) in 2013; and (5) The dollar limit on the administrative cost assessment charged to attorneys representing claimants will be $88 in 2013. The national average wage index for 2011 is $42,979.61. This index affects the following amounts: (1) The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) contribution and benefit base will be $113,700 for remuneration paid in 2013 and self-employment income earned in taxable years beginning in 2013; (2) The monthly exempt amounts under the OASDI retirement earnings test for taxable years ending in calendar year 2013 will be $1,260 for years prior to the year in which a person attains his or her Normal Retirement Age (NRA; defined later in this Notice) and $3,340 for the year in which a person attains his or her NRA; (3) The dollar amounts (``bend points;'' defined later in this Notice) used in the primary insurance amount (PIA) benefit formula for workers who become eligible for benefits, or who die before becoming eligible, in 2013 will be $791 and $4,768; (4) The bend points used in the formula for computing maximum family benefits for workers who become eligible for benefits, or who die before becoming eligible, in 2013 will be $1,011, $1,459, and $1,903; (5) The amount of taxable earnings a person must have to be credited with a quarter of coverage in 2013 will be $1,160; (6) The ``old-law'' contribution and benefit base under title II of the Act will be $84,300 for 2013; (7) The monthly amount deemed to constitute substantial gainful activity for statutorily blind individuals in 2013 will be $1,740, and the corresponding amount for non-blind disabled persons will be $1,040; (8) The earnings threshold establishing a month as a part of a trial work period will be $750 for 2013; and (9) Coverage thresholds for 2013 will be $1,800 for domestic workers and $1,600 for election officials and election workers.

The Social Security Administration published a document in the Federal Register of August 27, 2012, in FR Doc. 2012-21065, in the first column, correct the ``title'' to read: Social Security Acquiescence Ruling (AR) 12-1(8); Petersen v. Astrue, 633 F.3d 633 (8th Cir. 2011); Whether a National Guard Technician Who Worked in Noncovered Employment is Exempt From the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)Title II of the Social Security Act. Also, in the second column, correct the heading to read: Acquiescence Ruling 12-1(8)

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer matching program that we are currently conducting with VA/VBA.

This final rule adopts, without change, the interim final rule with request for comments we published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2010, at 75 FR 75884. The interim final rule contained the rules that we apply to determine the income-related monthly adjustment amount for Medicare prescription drug coverage (also known as Medicare Part D) premiums. This new subpart implemented changes made to the Social Security Act (Act) by the Affordable Care Act. The interim final rule allowed us to implement the provisions of the Affordable Care Act related to the income-related monthly adjustment amount for Medicare prescription drug coverage premiums when they went into effect on January 1, 2011.

We are announcing the extension of tests involving modifications to disability determination procedures authorized by 20 CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. These rules authorize us to test several modifications to the disability determination procedures for adjudicating claims for disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (Act) and for supplemental security income payments based on disability under title XVI of the Act.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new computer matching program that we will conduct with CMS.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new computer matching program that we will conduct with DOL. Also published today in a separate notice in the Federal Register you will find an announcement of a renewal of an existing computer matching program (Match 1003).