anybody know how much money you can make while on permanent SSI Diability?

Question

I am on permanent disability now for three years and have had other problems because of the disability.I am chapter7 now and broke and no savings.I want to try working a part-time job and need to know if I make 800 dollars a month do I lose any beniefits?I am not lazy but I can't do the job I did for 28yrs but I want to try and live a better life but not be penalized for it,This is probably a stupid question any way

And does my age 54 have anything to do with it.I want to know in case I use the Job Ticket Program?

Answer 1

It's a great question. I actually earn a living answering this question.

Yes, you can earn money when you're on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) but both programs have strict rules that govern how your benefits will be affected by earned income. First, be absolutely sure that you know which of these benefits programs you're on. It's important because they have different rules. Look at your bank statement or ask someone at SSA. Some people are on both programs. If that's the case, you follow both sets of rules at the same time.

The best place to read about the rules is in SSA's publication called the Red Book. You can get it at your local SSA office or read it on-line at:

http://www.ssa.gov/work/ResourcesToolkit/redbook_page.html

The basics are:

If you are only on SSI you can earn up to $65/mo and receive up to $20/mo. (whether it's earned or unearned) without affecting your SSI. Any earned income above that amount will reduce you future SSI check by $1 for every $2 you earn. For example, if in February you earn $685 gross and you report it in writing by showing SSA your paystub by March 10th, you keep the 1st $85 without penalty and your April SSI check will be reduced by $300. If you have out-of-pocket expenses that relate to your disability AND your ability to work, you may be able to count them when calculating your gross income. Read about them - Impairment Related Work Expenses - in the Red Book. Also, if your earned income gets high enough to make your SSI check go down to $0, you can still keep you Medicaid under an SSI program called 1619b, also in the Red Book. Note: The rules are a little different for self-employed people and blind people.

If you are on SSDI, the rules are very different. If this is the case, read the Red Book, talk with a benefits advocate, or e-mail me through this web site. To find a benefits advocate in your area, contact your local independent living center. You can find yours at:

http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html

Good luck!

Alana
Benefits Advocate
Former SSI Beneficiary

Answer 2

This is a major issue, I thought the law was , people on ssi could work 20 hours a wk? If you live on your own on SSI and have bills to pay, the amount you earn should be considered poverty level, if you want to try to suppliment sounds like you could lose benefits........between a rock in a hard place is no place at all.
Some people can't work a full time job, Some can work a few hours here and there, I don't think working 3 or 4 hours a week should affect somebody. I don't know........

Answer 3

I don't have an answer but rather something to say. I think the Goverment is unfair to those who are trying to make an honest living. All they want to do is OWN you. You can't make squat. You can't survive on what you make now. Then when you want to work on the side you basically can only work a few hours out of the week for peanuts basically. Otherwise God forbid you go Just a little bit over you get a big penalty. I am 45 yrs old. Can't hold a decent relationship due to mainly income issues. I could make good money online doing what I am good at, but I can't because it will screw me over. Therefore I have to live with my mom who is now 85 and when she passes I have to find some crappy place to live in because the Government won't allow people on disability to have anything nice or for themselves. This is CRAP! Pass women I have dated said it wasn't my disability that pushed them away, it was the fact that I couldn't help support financially and so they look elsewhere while I suffer from a broken heart knowing in this world I am screwed because of the Government. My doctors say I need to stay on SSI because of my situation and disability, so another words live poor and gain nothing in life? Yeah.... thanks! Yet, I am not the type of person who believes in cheating the system, even though it is cheating me and everyone on it. I still stay true to what the rules are even if I do not agree. Instead shouldn't the plan be to help encourage those on disability to gain a fruitful life and to be able to live life to it's fullest? Instead once we have a disability or have to go on SSI or any kind of Government plan we are basically screwed. Even our soldiers all don't get the support they should. Garbage...complete BS Garbage. What happen to America???

Answer 4

SSI is to provide your son the support he needs to live. You can use it for all the things you specified. You can save some of it for a bigger expense, but mostly you should figure you should spend all of it each month for his month to month expenses. All the household expenses he can pay half. It doesn't matter if some might think you can repair an air conditioner or a particular type of therapy is unproven - it is your son's money to spend on the expense of his life as you choose to spend them. I suggest you open an account in your name (it must be in your name) as your son's representative payee. Pay 1/2 of your rent, mortgage, utilities bills, insurance, car payments - whatever you have in monthly bills using Bill Pay. If there is an expense for your son alone - like a mattress - pay that from that account. I have a credit card I use for my son's expenses, and another I use for my nieces - nd than I pay the credit card bill with their SSI money. That way I can but more stuff for them - just also incur interest if what they need is a bigger cost item.

Answer 5

I do not know the exact limit but I do know you can make some money without effecting your SSI. My dad was in the same situation a few years back.

Go to the social security administrations website and search on working while drawing disability. Or call your local SSA office on Tuesday (as Monday is another paid day off for are hard working government employees, they get more time off than god.)

Answer 6

You are not allowed to make any money at all on permanent disability. If you do get a job and work you have to report that fact to Social Security, then after you have worked 3 months they will require you to take that job as a permanent job and you lose your social security. Thats what they told me. This is all before age of 65, after you reach 65 you can work and make some money.

Answer 7

I don't think this is a stupid question. I am in the same boat. I think you can earn up to 12,500 more than you get from SSI before they start cutting you back. However, if one person is considered to be low-income when making less than 35,000 dollars per year, what do they consider someone with no other income than SSI disability who makes less than 13,000 dollars per year? And why cannot we make; through a job; more than 12,500 per year to supplement our incomes before they start cutting back on the amount of money we make?

Answer 8

No its not a stupid , just make all you can ,get paid in cash,call it a donation. I think some real rich people start their own charties and live through it to avoid paying taxes.Any money paid to you should be in a form of a donation in your name that you can use..For instance say that your name is Bob Jones, then just create a charity called the "Bob Jones Charity to Enhance Living" Look into it and i wish you the best of luck..

Answer 9

No,it's not a stupid question. I'm not sure how much you can make but if you go to www.socialsecurity.gov and search around,you might be able to find out. Good luck.