earned income

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Many of you may have already recieved this but I would rather get it

multiple times than miss it. This is pretty significant information for

those folks working hard to get employment for our people with disabilities.

Hello All!

It is that time of year when Social Security announces it's Cost of Living

Adjustment for Social Security disability cash programs.

One of the changes is that in order to earn one work credit in 2012, the

gross amount earned needs to be $1,130. This represents a $10 increase from

the 2011 amount of $1,120. The maximum amount that can be earned is 4 work

credits in one calendar year which equals $4,520. This is particularly

important for our workers under the age of 24. If an individual has 6 work

credits by the 24th birthdate and are determined to have met the definition

of disability, they could be eligible for Social Security Disability

Insurance (Title II or SSDI) on their own record. 24 months later, they

would then also b eligible for Medicare. This is just one MORE reason to

encourage work at an early age.

Once a SSDI cash beneficiary is working there are many work incentives

available to them! It is important to work with your local Community Work

Incentives Coordinator for an individual analysis, but here are the numbers

that are relevant to SSDI beneficiaries.

Trial Work Period - 2012 remains the same as 2011 - $720 gross earnings in

one month for 9 months in a 5 year rolling period

Substantial Gainful Activity for people without blindness- 2012 - $1,010

gross earnings in one month (please keep in mind that the use of Impairment

Related Work Expenses; Subsidy; self-employment work incentives could be

used to reduce countable earnings to below $1,010)

Substantial Gainful Activity for people who live with blindness in 2012 is

$1,690 (please keep in mind that the use of Impairment Related Work

Expenses; Blind Work Expenses, Subsidy; self-employment work incentives

could be used to reduce countable earnings to below $1,690)

Student Earned Income Exclusion for a Student under the age of 22 who is a

recipient of Supplemental Security Income - $ 1,700 /month or $6,840 /yearly

exclusion

The monthly Supplement Security Income Federal Benefit Rate has increased

from 2011 - $674 to 2012 - $698 or $1,048 for a couple.

The maximum amount of resources a recipient of SSI and/or Medicaid remains

at $2,000 total savings and cash on hand.

Sometimes, you might know a parent who is receiving benefits due to the loss

of the other parent AND they are caring for their child with a disability.

If that parent is under the full retirement age, please know that the annual

maximum earnings threshold in 2012 is: $14,640/yr. ($1,220/mo.) Should

income exceed that amount, their cash benefit would be reduced $1 for every

$2 earned.

Here are two links to the Social Security Administration website for further

explanation of these new numbers.

2012 COLA

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2012.htm and

http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/newfor2012.htm

Happy New Year!

Marsie

Marsie L. Frawley

Statewide Coordinator, Rural Illinois Customized Employment Sustainability

Project

RICES, an investment of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

-Hammis Associates, LLC

mfrawley@...

920 559 6364

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