Social Security Announces 1.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2013
Posted: October 16, 2012
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the Social Security Administration announced today.
The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012.
Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $113,700 from $110,100. Of the estimated 163 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.
Information about Medicare changes for 2013, when announced, will be available at www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated.
Learn more about the COLA for 2013
Register for Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE) to Learn About the Ticket to Work Program or Work Incentives
Posted: October 5, 2012
Social Security’s Ticket to Work program supports career development for people with disabilities who are preparing to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary and offers beneficiaries with disabilities access to employment.
To find out more about our Ticket to Work Program, get some resume writing and job interview tips, and to gain some insight into what employers are looking for in a potential employee, watch our webinar, "Hiring People with Disabilities: The Employer's Point of View," on October 10, 2012 at 3:00pm EST. Register for this free web event.
Social Security’s Open Government Portal – A New Look and Feel
Posted: October 2, 2012
In our continuing quest to ensure our Open Government portal remains an open resource for the public, we have redesigned the page to make the most relevant information more easily accessible. We aimed to make the layout more streamlined and simple, the menu more intuitive and easy to navigate, and above all, present the most popular information front and center! Improving our transparency and accountability to the public we serve is our priority. We will continually improve this website based on your feedback. We encourage you to share your ideas and comments about our page redesign at open.government@ssa.gov.
Webcast: Information for Individuals Who Prefer to Do Business with Us in Spanish
Posted: September 17, 2012
Are you a Spanish speaker and interested in information about Social Security, in Spanish? Or maybe, do you know someone who prefers to do business with us in Spanish? Find out how you, or someone you know, can do business in Spanish, using our online services! Watch our previously recorded webinar,"¡Servicios del Seguro Social por Internet - en Espanol!", presented in Spanish, to learn how you can get an estimate of your future retirement estimates and apply for Social Security retirement benefits, Medicare, or the Extra Help with the cost of Medicare prescription drugs.
Social Security Publishes Revised Open Government Plan 2.0
Posted: September 13th, 2012
We've posted our Open Government Plan 2.0 update, which reflects our continuing commitment to the principles of openness and accountability. As a government agency that touches the lives of all Americans, our efforts to be more transparent about our work, increase participation in dialogues affecting our programs, and encourage collaboration with other organizations, all work towards Social Security’s mission of delivering services that meet the changing needs of the public.
Two years ago, we released our first Open Government Plan. Our refreshed plan includes additional input we received from Open Government stakeholders, the public and our employees; summarizes the progress we have made in implementing Open Government principles at our agency; and outlines additional commitments we expect to meet in the next two years.
We encourage you to read through our refreshed Open Government Plan, and share your ideas and comments with us at open.government@ssa.gov.
You may follow our progress on this plan and other Open Government activities on our website.
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