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NMP Newsletter
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We invite you to reprint our articles in order to bring helpful information to your readers, with the following guidelines:
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Source: Reprinted from the November 2014 Newsletter of Sheri R. Abrams, Attorney at Law, Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC
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| Issue: # 76 |
November 2014
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Welcome to our monthly newsletter.
These monthly newsletters are designed to provide useful information on Disability Law & Issues with a special emphasis on Social Security Disability & Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and Special Needs Trusts & Planning.
You may have been added to our e-mail newsletter mailing list if you are a client, business associate, a Facebook friend, a Linked-In connection, or another professional contact of Sheri R. Abrams, Attorney at Law, or the Law Firm of Needham Mitnick & Pollack, plc.
You may unsubscribe by clicking on the link at the end of this e-mail.
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Social Security Announces 1.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2015
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 Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 64 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2015.
The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin in January 2015 for the more than 58 million people who receive Social Security Retirement and Disability benefits. The maximum Social Security benefit will increase to $2,663 a month.
Increased payments to the more than 8 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will begin on December 31, 2014. The amount of SSI will increase to $733 a month for a person, $1100 a month for a couple.
The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages.
Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $118,500 from $117,000.
Of the estimated 168 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2015, about 10 million will pay higher taxes because of this increase in the taxable maximum.
Other important changes next year include:
-----Significant Gainful Activity (SGA) increasing to $1,090 a month; and
-----a Trial Work Period (TWP) increasing to $780 a month.
As far as Medicare is concerned most people will not see an increase in their Part B premiums ($104.90 per month) or their Part B deductibles ($147 per year) in 2015.
More specific information about Medicare changes for 2015 is available at www.Medicare.gov.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/cola
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FRAUD ALERT: Text Phishing Scheme Targeting Social Security Disability Applicants and Beneficiaries
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The Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA), is warning the public, and Social Security disability applicants and beneficiaries in particular, about a text phishing scheme that has recently surfaced.
It has been reported that several claimants have recently received suspicious text messages, requesting them to call a telephone number for information about their Social Security disability benefit claims.
According to these reports, individuals posing as Government officials have sent texts to several Social Security disability applicants and beneficiaries in an attempt to elicit a response-possibly to obtain their personal and financial information.
The text reads: "Disability Alert: Please call 253-xxx-xxxx regarding your recent disability benefits application."
The Inspector General urges everyone to be aware that Social Security will never send you a text message about your application for Social Security benefits. Moreover, you should always take precautions when asked to provide personal information. You should never provide your Social Security number, bank account numbers, or other personal information unless you are extremely confident about the identity of the person asking for it. Social Security representatives may call to follow up on a benefit application---but they will not send text messages---and they generally will not ask for personal identifiers or financial information.
Please be aware that there are many variations of this type of phishing scheme, which could lead to identity theft or Social Security benefit theft.
For additional information or to report identity theft visit the Federal Trade Commission website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or call them at 1-877-ID-THEFT. If you receive a text message, e-mail, or phone call from anyone claiming to be from a government agency and requesting personal information, the Inspector General recommends that you contact the agency directly to verify the employee's identity.
For the Social Security Administration, you may contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security's toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, to verify the employee's identity and the information request. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security's TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.) Also, you may report suspicious activity involving Social Security programs and operations to the Social Security Fraud Hotline at
or by phone at 1-800-269-0271, 10 am to 4 pm Eastern Time. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call TTY 1-866-501-2101.)
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Sheri Abrams' Book "Don't Gamble With Your Social Security Disability Benefits--What Every Virginia Resident Needs To Know To Win A Social Security Disability Case" Is Available
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Now Available For Nook & Kindle
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"Don't Gamble With Your Social Security Disability Benefits--What Every Virginia Resident Needs To Know To Win A Social Security Disability Case" is now available for the Nook here,
and the Kindle here.
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OUR OFFICE LOCATION | |
The law firm of Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC, is located at:
400 S. Maple Avenue
Suite 210
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 536-7778
This is in downtown Falls Church and the office has plenty of free and accessible parking.
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REFERRALS | 
If you know of someone who could use my legal services or any of the other members of the law firm of Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC, please forward to him/her this e-mail newsletter or give him/her our telephone number: (703) 536-7778.
We provide legal services in the areas of Social Security Disability Law, Elder Law, Wills and Trusts, Probate, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives, Guardianships, Long Term Care Planning, Disability Planning, Medicaid Eligibility, Student Loan Discharge, Veterans Benefits and Special Needs Trusts.
If you, or someone you know, is involved with an educational event or support group that would benefit from a presentation on any of the areas of law for which we provide legal services, please call us at (703) 536-7778. |
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