2017 Social Security Administration Financial Adjustments

Submitted by mab on

The Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews financial data and publishes a list of updates every year. These updates include adjustments to maximum benefit amounts, work credits, and other financial thresholds. Whether you’re now receiving benefits or planning to apply in 2017, you’ll need to be aware of the SSA’s new figures.

Work Credit Minimum Earnings

Social Security is an insurance program to which workers contribute over the course of their employment. Contributions are made by paying Social Security taxes, and these taxes accumulate as “work credits.” You must typically have between 20 and 40 credits available in order to receive disability benefits.

Work credits are earned for each calendar quarter of employment in which you make a specific amount of money. In 2016, you needed net earnings of $1260 for one work credit. In 2017, that amount has increased to $1,300.

Substantial Gainful Activity

To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you cannot have earnings from employment that exceed what the SSA considers “substantial gainful activity” or SGA. In 2016, the SGA threshold was set at $1,130 per month for non-blind benefit recipients and $1,820 for the blind. In 2017, SGA for the blind and non-blind recipients increases with the threshold now set at $1,170 per month for non-blind recipients, and $1,950 for recipients who are blind.

SSDI Maximum Benefits

There is a maximum benefit amount established each year for SSDI benefits. In 2016, the maximum you could receive was $2,663 per month. Because there was a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) determined by Consumer Price Index studies for 2017, the maximum amount of monthly SSDI will actually increase slightly, to $2,687. This increase is a standard adjustment made according to Social Security regulations.

Supplemental Security Income Eligibility Thresholds

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are only available to applicants that do not exceed financial resource limits. The total income and assets allowable for SSI recipients in 2016 was $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple in which both partners received SSI. In 2017, these financial limits remain the same.

SSI Maximum Benefits

The maximum benefit amount available through the SSI program also increases for 2017, due to COLA-related Social Security regulations. The maximum benefit an individual can receive is $735 per month, and a couple cannot receive more than $1,103 in combined monthly benefits, if both partners get SSI.

Trial Work Period Earnings

SSDI recipients can test their ability to go back to work without losing disability benefits. This is done through a formal Trial Work Period with the SSA. A trial work period is nine months total, but only those months in which you earn a certain amount count toward your trial work allotment.

In 2016, any month in which you earned $810 counted. In 2017 however, only a month in which you earn $840 or greater counts toward your total trial work period.

Summary SSDI and SSI Changes for 2017

The l COLA increase in 2017 means most SSDI and/or SSI recipients and applicants will see a change in their monthly benefits. Other changes in the SSA’s benefit standards actually mean beneficiaries can earn more from employment and still receive disability benefits.

The following table summarizes adjustments for the 2017 calendar year.

2016 2017 Change
Work Credit Minimum Earnings $1,260/quarter $1,300/quarter $40 increase to earn one work credit
Substantial Gainful Activity $1,130/mo. (non-blind) $1,820/mo. (blind) $1,170/mo. (non-blind) $1,950/mo. (blind) A $40 increase for non-blind recipients and a $130 increase for blind recipients.
SSDI Maximum Benefits $2,639/mo $2,687/mo. $48 per month in maximum benefits available.
SSI Eligibility Thresholds $2,000 (individual) $3,000 (couple) $2,000 (individual) $3,000 (couple) No change
SSI Maximum Benefits $733/mo. (individual) $1,10o/mo. (couple) $735/mo. (individual) $1,103/mo. (couple) a $2 increase for individuals and a $3 increase for couples.
2016 2017 Change
Trial Work Period Earnings $810/mo. $840/mo. $30 increase in allowed earnings before a month counts toward Trial Work Period

Blog comments

Bryan

In reply to by Sandra (not verified)

Hi Sandra,

Hi Sandra,
You may be eligible for SSDI and SSI if your work record for SSDI was sufficient for benefits, but your monthly SSDI benefits would be less than $735 a month. If that was the case, then you would receive the amount of your SSDI benefits, and also SSI benefits equivalent to the difference of your SSDI benefits and $735.

Mon, 04/17/2017 - 14:00 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sandra (not verified)

Hi Sandra,

Hi Sandra,
You may be eligible for SSDI and SSI if your work record for SSDI was sufficient for benefits, but your monthly SSDI benefits would be less than $735 a month. If that was the case, then you would receive the amount of your SSDI benefits, and also SSI benefits equivalent to the difference of your SSDI benefits and $735.

Mon, 04/17/2017 - 14:00 Permalink
penny (not verified)

i'd like to know if SSD

i'd like to know if SSD pays more if the status of my disability has changed. I was given SSD for my severe back pain and arthritis, and I now have COPD, is this a condition that would be considered more money? I just had COPD exacerbation. it's very rough trying to get a breath of air.

Tue, 04/25/2017 - 15:58 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by penny (not verified)

Hi Penny,

Hi Penny,
I'm sorry to hear that! Unfortunately, the SSA may not increase benefit amounts due to a worsening in condition, though you may want to contact a local SSA office if you are having difficulties finacially, they may be able to help you out with that.

Wed, 04/26/2017 - 09:26 Permalink
Barbara (not verified)

I've been paying into my

I've been paying into my SS since I was 15 years old. I'm now 57 and can't even afford my living expenses. I have several disabilities and can not work. I'm in pain 24 hours a day. I've been through way too many tests, surgeries, medications and physical therapy. I have difficulty breathing and it's a daily struggle just to walk. It's painful just to be touched. The only thing that gives me any relief what so ever is my pain medication. And now the government is trying to take that away. Every month my doctor decreases the amount of pills that I need to help ease the pain. He's forced by the government to wean me off of it. Which I feel is inhuman. Since I first started receiving my disability benefits I've lost my vision in one eye due to a cornea transplant. The last cornea that I received was infected with a disease. My monthly SSDI benefits are so low that I also receive SSI just to bring the balance up to $700 dollars a month.But by receiving that $45 dollar SSI check my EBT was cut down by $89 dollars a month. How is that fare? It doesn't add up at all. You would think that due to the loss of my eye site that my benefits would have increased instead of decreasing. It's like I'm being punished for going blind. The system is not fair to the elderly and disabled who have worked hard all of our lives only to be treated as outcast in our golden years. I know three women that have hardly worked at all. One that has never worked an honest day in her life. However she's able to work and is nowhere close to being as bad off as myself and others are. Yet she receives almost double the amount of benefits as myself, and she gets more pain medication a month than I do because of her drug addiction. Why does she even get pain medication with an addiction? I've known her since she was a kid and I know her story. In my opinion people should be drug tested before receiving any benefits. If they test positive for drugs they should be given a choice. Either they go to rehab for free and recover. Or they are denied benefits. That would solve a big problem in this country. Also if on pain meds. A daily record should be logged in writing of how many pills a day are administered. Then every month when you see the doctor for a refill you should be drug tested to ensure that they are taking the meds themselves and not selling them for profit. If any illegal drug is found in the test then all benefits and pain meds should be cut off. This would insure that the people who really need the benefits and medication are receiving it, and the ones that are abusing the system are cut off. Just think about how much money our government would save by this simple plan.

Thu, 04/27/2017 - 20:00 Permalink
Bill (not verified)

My wife just applied for SS,

My wife just applied for SS, she is getting $850 . He daughter 37 years young with downs syndrome, has been on SASsince she was 22. Before I even new her. Anyway they said her daughters SS needed adjusted. Just got letter saying its going down to $522. Don't understand it..

Mon, 06/26/2017 - 21:19 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Bill (not verified)

Hi Bill,

Hi Bill,
I really could not say why your wife's daughter's benefits were reduced, however if she is receiving income dependent benefits and her income has changed, she may have a change in benefits.

Tue, 06/27/2017 - 12:58 Permalink
William (not verified)

I feel for the people that

I feel for the people that can't get Social Security and they were denied but listen to what I go through being on SSD it is not a cakewalk for me I have the maximum payment due to work credit I am not lazy I rather earn my keep I keep my manhood instead of waiting for a monthly check I fell ill of my health and had major surgery everybody thinks Social Security is the way to go they are so wrong I make the maximum payment I cannot get insurance coverage I have to pay for extra coverage I pay for a lot of other things in my life I wind up with zero money at the end of the month and I still need more money I am struggling being on SSD I am still poor good luck to everyone

Wed, 09/20/2017 - 14:11 Permalink
Joann G (not verified)

Why all of a sudden my

Why all of a sudden my disability check dropped from 807. a month to 673.???
With this little income, I now have to pay 134. a month for my Medicare? When I didn’t pay that at all before

Wed, 01/03/2018 - 20:26 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Joann G (not verified)

Hi Joann,

Hi Joann,

I am so sorry to hear that. You should contact a SSA rep. Wishing you nothing but the best.

Thu, 01/04/2018 - 15:42 Permalink
Angel (not verified)

recently I applied for Social

recently I applied for Social Security Benefits. I was not aware that my son who is diagnose "Medically Fragile" (can't talk-walk-feed himself) would lose his medicaid. I found out this after I applied. He was diagnose with Muscular Dystrophy since his 10th birthday. I was force/coerce to stop my Benefits. It makes me angry that I cannot apply for SS benefits because if i do my son's Medicaid is take away from him. I would like to know Who is knowledgeable enough to answer this question. The local SS office does not want to see me anymore let alone answer my questions. sure could use help.

Sat, 01/20/2018 - 01:53 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Angel (not verified)

Hi Angel,

Hi Angel,
I'm sorry to hear about that! If your son receives benefits based on your household's income, then being approved for disability benefits yourself may change his eligibility.

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 09:53 Permalink
Annonymous (not verified)

Hello,

Hello,
In 2015 I was in an accident that caused me to have both of my legs amputated. I started getting disability payments around 5 months after my accident these payments were around 580 and now have gone up to 600. I have yet to be approved for any type of housing help. While I know that just because I'm disabled doesn't mean I am automatically entitle to getting assistance, I was wondering if there were any housing assistance vouchers through SSDI. Also, is SSDI based on previous wages? Previous to my accident I had been working as a cocktail waitress making the amount that I get monthly through SSDI in a 2 day period, so as you can probably imagine the decrease in funds has caused chaos in my life on top of the unexpected loss of my lower limbs. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Tue, 01/23/2018 - 01:56 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Annonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
SSDI does not provide housing assistance, you may want to contact the housing authority in your area. SSDI is based on previous wages, where SSI benefits are based on income and resources.

Wed, 01/24/2018 - 09:31 Permalink
Bill McClanahan (not verified)

Yes I have carpal tunnel in

Yes I have carpal tunnel in both my hands my fingers stay numb I'm on disability already, a friend of mine had surgery done he said ss
Gave him a one time pain and suffering check is this true?

Sat, 01/27/2018 - 22:44 Permalink
Fanah (not verified)

A girlfriend of mine haa been

A girlfriend of mine haa been asking this and I thought to ask.... If someone files for taxes while under ssi and they are requested/required to pay Overpayments how much would it be total? The person files for $18k for the year, last year was $16k for the year.... This all being for housekeeping to help with bills and holiday expenses.... What would they be required to pay... Possible lump sum for the overpayment?...

Tue, 01/30/2018 - 15:00 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Fanah (not verified)

Hi Fanah,

Hi Fanah,
The IRS may not collect the overpayment, your friend should contact the SSA regarding how they would need to pay it.

Wed, 01/31/2018 - 15:49 Permalink
Don (not verified)

I am a man that has worked

I am a man that has worked hard all my life and in 2004 became disabled I receive 703.00 per month my son applied for social security because he is a drug addict and decided to drop out of high school has not worked a day in his life but was in prison a few years and gets 900.00 what is up with this Iam getting penalized for being a hard working person! Can I apply for more money?

Tue, 01/30/2018 - 22:44 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Don (not verified)

Hi Don,

Hi Don,
I'm sorry to hear about that! You may want to contact the SSA regarding this.

Wed, 01/31/2018 - 15:59 Permalink
matthew (not verified)

I recieve SSD but I did not

I recieve SSD but I did not see an increase in my check this month?

Thu, 02/01/2018 - 18:28 Permalink
Mary (not verified)

I don't understand, well

I don't understand, well maybe I do and I think its crazy. Last year I earned a little above the 1160 amount some months. Who can really live on that amount? So, I was going to apply for disability. I guess I won't. This is ridiculous!

Fri, 02/02/2018 - 08:34 Permalink

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