The Social Security Administration recently announced changes for 2011, including:
Beneficiaries will not receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2011 because there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2010. This is the second year in a row that no COLA has been payable.
The maximum annual earnings subject to Social Security taxes will remain at $106,800 (by statute, this amount remains the same when there is no COLA).
Earnings required for a quarter of coverage will remain at $1,120 (by law, because there was a decrease in the national average wage index for 2009).
The retirement earnings test exempt amounts for beneficiaries will remain unchanged (by statute, these amounts remain the same when there is no COLA). For beneficiaries under full retirement age, the annual limit remains at $14,160 ($1,180 per month). In the year an individual reaches full retirement age, the annual limit remains at $37,680 ($3,140 per month).
The following information is reprinted with permission from Forefield, Inc. Copyright 2006-2011.