No major changes in benefits for 2018, but may be on horizon

Although there is supposedly a looming funding crises that Social Security will have to address at some point, 2018 is starting as a quiet year for Social Security.

There are a few minor changes that could affect Kissimmee residents and other who live in central Florida and who are drawing disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.

As has been reported before, a cost of living adjustment, or COLA, is set to go in to effect on January 1. While this might not translate to any big changes for most disability recipients, it could mean that some of them will get a little more in their pockets each month. Specifically, those on Supplemental Security Income will see a slight increase in their monthly benefits.

Furthermore, the amount of money a person can earn each month while still on disability benefits will increase slightly, meaning that the disabled can earn a little more money on the side without it affecting their eligibility for benefits. The increase, however, is modest; someone who is not disabled due to blindness can now earn $1,180 a month instead of $1,170 a month, while someone who does have disabling blindness can earn $1,970 monthly as opposed to $1,950.

Although readers of this blog should be on the lookout for bigger changes down the road, at this time, the basic way disability benefits operate is not in for a major change in 2018.

This means that, for the time being, long waits to get benefits will likely continue, and it will still therefor be very important for a disabled person in Florida to put together an accurate and persuasive application for benefits so that he or she can get the financial assistance he or she needs.

Source: Yahoo! Finance, “8 changes to Social Security in 2018,” Matthew Frankel, Dec. 31, 2017.

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