2018 Social Security Changes

SOCIAL SECURITY FACT SHEET

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA):

Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2016 through the third quarter of 2017, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 2.0 percent COLA for 2018. Other important 2018 Social Security information is as follows:

Tax Rate 2017 2018
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.

 

  2017 2018
Maximum Taxable Earnings
Social Security (OASDI only) $127,200 $128,700
Medicare (HI only) No Limit
Quarter of Coverage
  $1,300 $1,320
Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts
Under full retirement age

$16,920/yr
($1,410/mo)

$17,040/yr
($1,420/mo)
NOTE: One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit.
The year an individual reaches full retirement age $44,880/yr
($3,740/mo)
$45,360/yr
($3,780/mo)
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.
Beginning the month an individual attains full retirement age None

 

  2017 2018
Social Security Disability Thresholds
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) 
Non-Blind $1,170/mo $1,180/mo
Blind $1,950/mo $1,970/mo
Trial Work Period (TWP) $840/mo $850/mo
Maximum Social Security Benefit: Worker Retiring at Full Retirement Age
  $2,687/mo $2,788/mo
SSI Federal Payment Standard
Individual $735/mo $750/mo
Couple $1,103/mo $1,125/mo
SSI Resource Limits
Individual $2,000 $2,000
Couple $3,000 $3,000
SSI Student Exclusion
Monthly limit $1,790 $1,820
Annual Limit $7,200 $7,350
Estimated Average Monthly Social Security Benefits Payable in January 2018
  Before
2.0% COLA
After
2.0% COLA
All Retired Workers $1,377 $1,404
Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits $2,294 $2,340
Widowed Mother and Two Children $2,717 $2,771
Aged Window(er) Alone $1,310 $1,336
Disabled Worker, Spouse and One or More Children $2,011 $2,051
All Disabled Workers $1,173 $1,197

 

*All information pulled from the official Social Security Fact Sheet which can be found at: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2018.pdf 

 

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