TruPay HR Alerts - December 2011

Social Security Benefit Increase. On October 19, 2011, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase in 2012. The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with the January 2012 benefit payments. Increased payments to SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.

OSHA Whistle-Blower Claims. Published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2011, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Sarbanes-Oxley Act whistle-blower claims may now be filed orally. The final rules revise existing regulations and public comments must be received by January 3, 2012.

IRS Mileage Rate. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) optional standard mileage rate of 55.5 cents/mile for business miles expires on December 31, 2011. The IRS has not yet announced if the rate will be different in 2012.

OCR Privacy and Security Compliance Audits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for privacy and security enforcement under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. The OCR is piloting a program to perform up to 150 audits of covered entities to assess privacy and security compliance. Audits are to conclude by December 2012.