The Social Security Administration (SSA) published its annual Fact Sheet last month, showing changes to SSA benefits upcoming in 2010. I found three items of interest on the Fact Sheet:

1. The SSA officially acknowledged that there would be no cost-of-living adjustment next year for monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
2. The new substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount will be $1,000 per month. In order to be considered “disabled” by SSA, an applicant for benefits cannot be engaged in SGA. SGA is determined by reviewing an applicant’s monthly earnings. If an applicant earns more than $1,000 each month in 2010, SSA will conclude that the applicant is engaged in SGA and, as a result, that the applicant is not disabled under Social Security’s rules.
3. The SSI federal payment amount in 2010 will be $674 per month for a person living alone or with others in his or her own household. New Jersey provides a monthly supplement of $31.25 to SSI recipients, so the total monthly SSI payment amount for a person living alone or with others in his or her own household in New Jersey will be $705.25 in 2010. This payment amount is the same amount that SSI recipients in identical living arrangements received in 2009.