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Friday, November 11, 2011
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President Clinton Announces
Regulatory Changes Increasing Earnings Limits for
Social Security Beneficiaries with Disabilities
July
26,
2000
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As part of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the
"Americans with Disabilities Act," President
Bill
Clinton today
announced three new regulatory changes to encourage Social Security
disability beneficiaries to work. By raising earnings limits each year, the
proposals would increase the amount of money that individuals can earn while
remaining eligible for benefits. The series of changes will affect
approximately 400,000 disability beneficiaries.
"I am proud of the progress we've made to advance the goals of inclusion,
empowerment and independence," stated President Clinton. "But too many
Americans with disabilities who are ready, willing and able to work are
still not working. As long as any American is denied equal opportunity and
full participation, we have work to do. This is an American Challenge."
"These regulatory changes are part of our efforts to encourage individuals
with disabilities to go as far as their hard work and skills can take them,"
said Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner of Social Security. "We must give
beneficiaries with disabilities the opportunity to contribute their talents
to the work force while allowing them to keep their benefits."
The first regulatory change increases the amount of earnings that the Social
Security Administration uses to determine gainful employment. Social
Security uses a technical term called "substantial gainful activity" (SGA)
to determine if work is substantial enough to make a person ineligible for
benefits. Under the proposal, the current earnings limit of $700 per month
would be automatically adjusted yearly, based on increases in the national
average wage index.
"Many beneficiaries hesitate to return to work for fear of inadvertently
crossing the SGA threshold and losing critically important cash and medical
benefits," commented Commissioner Apfel. "Automatic increases in the amount
they can earn will go a long way to help beneficiaries stay-and make
gains-in the workplace."
The second regulatory change affects the trial work period-time in which
beneficiaries may earn any amount and still keep full benefits. Currently,
the trial work period allows disabled beneficiaries to test their ability to
work for at least nine months, and earnings of $200 a month count as a trial
month. The change would increase that amount to $530 a month and provide
automatic yearly increases. (The SGA limit is used after beneficiaries
complete nine trial work months.)
The third regulatory change allows disabled students receiving Supplemental
Security Income to exclude more income before their benefits are affected.
Under current law, when students under the age of 22 work, up to $400 of
earned income per month is not counted when deciding if they are eligible.
The regulatory change would increase that amount to $1,290. The change also
raises the maximum yearly exclusion from $1,620 to $5,200 and provides for
automatic yearly adjustments in the future, based on the cost-of-living
increase.
"These proposals follow the trails blazed by the Americans with Disabilities
Act," said Commissioner Apfel. "America has always been about opportunity,
and we must continue to eliminate the barriers that have denied persons with
disabilities access to the American dream."
Social Security pays cash benefits to people with disabilities who are
unable to earn a substantial income and whose disabilities are expected to
last for at least a year or result in death. Social Security also
administers the Supplemental Security Income program, which is a cash
assistance program for aged or disabled people who have low income and few
assets.
See also the factsheet located at
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/ADA.htm
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