A provision related to students under the age of 22 who receive Supplemental Security Income, otherwise known as the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE), is not widely discussed in Social Security disability circles, but it is an important factor in advising some SSI recipients the type of income they can earn compared to older adults who receive SSI.
The SEIE is a work incentive initiative that allows certain SSI recipients who are under the age of 22 and regularly attending school, college, or vocational and technical training, can have limited earnings that are not counted against their SSI benefits. Because Social Security is a needs-based program, there are certain income and asset limitations, but the SEIE allows more wiggle room for students.
The maximum amount of income exclusion applicable for a student next year will be $1,1790 per month in gross income, but not to exceed $7,200 for the entire year.
Typical resource limits for adults to technically qualify for SSI consider a combination of income and assets which is a total of $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.
In a previous blog post we talked about many of the changes that would occur to Social Security’s programs and rules for 2017, but one thing we did not discuss was the earnings threshold to obtain a Social Security credit to be eligible for retirement and disability purposes. In 2016 Social Security required a worker to earn at least $1,260 within an annual quarter (three consecutive months) to earn a work credit. That amount will increase to $1,300 to earn a credit in 2017.
There are also some other changes that Social Security will implement after the new year. A good source to keep up with all the changes can be found here.
