1. a. 

   Whenever title II benefits increase because of a rise in the cost-of-living, the FBRs for an eligible individual and an eligible couple increase. The EP increment also increases.

2. b. 

   Before 7/83, if these rates after increase were not a multiple of $1.20 on a yearly basis, they were raised to be a multiple of $1.20 on a yearly basis ($0.10 on a monthly basis). The increased rates were paid each July.

3. c. 

   For 7/83, there was no Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). In place of a COLA, there was a special increase.

4. d. 

   Beginning with 1/84, COLAs occur in January. For 1/84 and after, if the rates after increase are not a multiple of $12 on a yearly basis, they are lowered to be a multiple of $12 on a yearly basis ($1 on a monthly basis).

1. a. 

   The law requires States to pass along COLAs or lose title XIX (Medicaid) funds. A State may choose to maintain supplementary payment levels and/or maintain total expenditures for supplementary payments. (See SI 01401.001 and SI 01403.001.)

2. b. 

   States electing to maintain supplementary payment levels must maintain both optional and mandatory supplements at the required levels. In States with federally administered programs, the combined Federal/optional State supplement levels or individual MILs are increased by the amount of the COLA to the FBR. (See SI 01415.001 for OSS levels. See SI 02005.082D.3. for information about MIL increases.)

3. c. 

   Because there was no COLA in 7/83, a special rule applied for the maintenance of payment levels option. States could increase the combined Federal/State payment levels (or MILs) by either the full amount of the special increase or by 3.5 percent (the amount the FBR would have increased under regular cost-of-living procedures).

¹ The monthly rates are shown on the first line for each category and the quarterly rates are shown on the second line.

² This rate has been adjusted by the 1/3 reduction. See SI 00835.200 to determine if the Value of One-Third Reduction (VTR) applies (effective 04/82 the reduction is treated as income).

³ See SI 00520.000 to determine if this rate applies.

⁴ This FBR also applies if one member of the couple is living in the household of another and receives in-kind support and maintenance (see SI 00835.000).

⁵ Applies only before 10/76.

⁶ See SI 00501.100 to determine if an increment applies.

$30 – Individual

$60 – Couple

¹ See SI 00835.200 to determine if the VTR applies.

² See SI 00501.100 to determine if an increase applies.

³ Benefits paid in January 2000 through July 2001 were based on Federal Benefit Rates of $512.00 and $530.00, respectively. Pursuant to Public Law 106-554, beginning in August 2001, monthly payments for 2000 and 2001 were effectively based on the higher $513.00 and $531.00 amounts.

⁴ See SI 00520.011 to determine if this rate applies.