Are You Ready for These 2016 Social Security Benefit Changes?

Starting the New Year off right includes taking a look over your finances to see if any of these social security changes affect you. A change in your anticipated income or an unexpected loss of disability benefits could mean trouble. The experienced attorneys at Jenkins Block & Associates can help guide you through these benefit changes.

Social Security Disability

For those of you receiving Social Security Disability benefits, there are a few changes heading your way, as listed by the SSA. The threshold for substantial gainful activity (SGA) has been raised to $1,130/mo. for non-blind applicants. For anyone planning on returning to work, the Trial Work Period social security benefits have been expanded to $810/mo.

Due to the lack of an increase in the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) but an increase in the National Average Wage Index, the maximum benefits for a worker retiring at full retirement age has actually decreased. This decrease in maximum social security benefits goes against the grain of the normal trend.  The new maximum benefits amount for 2016 stands at $2,639/mo.

Average Social Security Benefit Changes

New averages have been calculated for the New Year, helping you to make more informed decisions on how to handle the benefit changes. For an aged couple, both of whom are receiving social security benefits, the new average will be $2,212 per month. For a disabled worker, the new average will be $1,166 per month. If you qualify for neither of these categories, the average for all retired workers of $1341/mo. will give you a rough guess of where to start for an estimate of your social security benefit changes.

Need guidance with filing for Social Security benefits? Call JBA.

When choosing an attorney to guide you through the process of Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income, it’s important to hire an individual experienced with the program and its requirements. Consulting an individual who has insight on Social Security and the application process will prove to be extremely valuable in the long run, especially when questions arise or uncertainty on how to proceed.

Before trying to work out intricate Social Security qualifications on your own, contact our office to make sure you understand the program and process. Protect yourself, know your rights: call us and Get JBA First!

Jenkins Block & Associates has 40+ years of experience in successful SSD/SSI cases in Maryland & Virginia, in addition to being a member of The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives. Call us at 1-800-243-2439 or contact us online to begin the process of filing your Social Security benefits!