One misnomer about the Social Security disability program is that recipients are unable to work and earn income from work-related activities if they are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. This is completely false, although there are restrictions about how much money a recipient can earn from work and receive benefits at the same time.
Social Security considers gainful employment to be anyone who earns $1,170 (2017) and $1,180 beginning in 2018, per month in gross income, from work-related activities. Anyone earning this amount and beyond is not considered disabled under Social Security’s rules, but many people who receive SSDI benefits are able to work on a limited basis and earn less than this amount, which Social Security finds acceptable. Regardless of how much an SSDI recipient earns from work, those wages must be reported to Social Security, and now there is any easier way to report income to Social Security.
In October, Social Security announced it has expanded online service through its my Social Security account, to allow recipients to report income to Social Security. Previously the only way to report income to Social Security was by phone or by visiting a Social Security field office. Recipients who report income to Social Security online are also able to print off a receipt of the transaction. Social Security is expected to expand the program in the future to allow Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients to do the same. Because SSI is a needs-based program, any income, work-related or non work-related, can impact benefits. Social Security has attempted to increase the amount of services it provides online because people face long wait times if they visit a Social Security office or try to reach someone from the agency by phone. For more information about this service visit www.socialsecurity.gov.
