The Social Security Administration announced last week that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will not automatically increase in 2016 as there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2015. Other important 2016 Social Security information is as follows:
| Tax Rate: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Employee | 7.65% | 7.65% |
| Self-Employed | 15.30% | 15.30% |
| NOTE: The 7.65% tax rate is the combined rate for Social Security and Medicare. The Social Security portion (OASDI) is 6.20% on earnings up to the applicable taxable maximum amount (see below). The Medicare portion (HI) is 1.45% on all earnings. Also, as of January 2013, individuals with earned income of more than $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) pay an additional 0.9 percent in Medicare taxes. The tax rates shown above do not include the 0.9 percent. | ||
| Maximum Taxable Earnings: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Social Security (OASDI only) | $118,500 | $118,500* |
| Medicare (HI only) | N o L i m i t | |
| Quarter of Coverage: | 2015 | 2016 |
| $1,220 | $1,260 | |
| Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Under full retirement age
NOTE: One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit. |
$15,720/yr. ($1,310/mo.) |
$15,720/yr.* ($1,310/mo.) |
| The year an individual reaches full retirement age
NOTE: Applies only to earnings for months prior to attaining full retirement age. One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $3 in earnings above the limit. There is no limit on earnings beginning the month an individual attains full retirement age. |
$41,880/yr. ($3,490/mo.) |
$41,880/yr.* ($3,490/mo.) |
| Social Security Disability Thresholds: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Non-Blind Blind |
$1,090/mo. $1,820/mo. |
$1,130/mo. $1,820/mo.* |
| Trial Work Period (TWP) | $780/mo. | $ 810/mo. |
| Maximum Social Security Benefit: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Worker Retiring at Full Retirement Age | $2,663/mo. | $2,639/mo.** |
| SSI Federal Payment Standard: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Individual | $733/mo. | $ 733/mo.* |
| Couple | $1,100/mo. | $1,100/mo.* |
| SSI Resources Limits: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Individual | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Couple | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| SSI Student Exclusion: | 2015 | 2016 |
| Monthly limit | $1,780 | $1,780* |
| Annual limit | $7,180 | $7,180* |
| Estimated Average Monthly Social Security Benefits Payable in January 2016: | ||
| All Retired Workers | $1,341 | |
| Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits | $2,212 | |
| Widowed Mother and Two Children | $2,680 | |
| Aged Widow(er) Alone | $1,285 | |
| Disabled Worker, Spouse and One or More Children | $1,983 | |
| All Disabled Workers | $1,166 | |
| * Because there is no COLA, by law these amounts remain unchanged in 2016.
** A decrease in full maximum benefits occurs when there is no COLA, but there is an increase in the national average wage index. |
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Source: Social Security Administration