Social Security Administration October 26, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), there will be no cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective for December 2010. As a result, the following items will remain at their 2010 levels: (1) The maximum Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly benefit amounts for 2011, under title XVI of the Act, will remain $674 for an eligible individual, $1,011 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $338 for an essential person; (2) The special benefit amount under title VIII of the Act for certain World War II veterans will remain $505.50 in 2011; (3) The student earned income exclusion under title XVI of the Act will remain $1,640 per month in 2011, but not more than $6,600 in all of 2011; (4) The dollar fee limit for services performed as a representative payee will remain $37 per month ($72 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 2011; (5) The dollar limit on the administrative-cost assessment charged to attorneys representing claimants will remain $83 in 2011; (6) The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) contribution and benefit base will remain $106,800 for remuneration paid in 2011 and self-employment income earned in taxable years beginning in 2011; (7) The monthly exempt amounts under the Social Security retirement earnings test for taxable years ending in calendar year 2011 will remain $1,180 and $3,140; (8) The ``old-law'' contribution and benefit base under title II of the Act will remain $79,200 for 2011; and (9) The monthly amount deemed to constitute substantial gainful activity for statutorily blind individuals in 2011 will remain $1,640. The national average wage index for 2009 is $40,934.93. This index affects the following items: (1) The dollar amounts (``bend points'') used in the primary insurance amount benefit formula for workers who become eligible for benefits, or who die before becoming eligible, in 2011 will be $753 and $4,542; (2) 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 2011 will be $963, $1,390, and $1,812; (3) The amount of taxable earnings a person must have to be credited with a quarter of coverage in 2011 will be $1,120; (4) The monthly amount deemed to constitute substantial gainful activity for non-blind disabled persons will be $1,000 in 2011; (5) The earnings threshold establishing a month as a part of a trial work period will be $720 for 2011; and (6) Coverage thresholds for 2011 will be $1,700 for domestic workers and $1,500 for election officials and election workers.