I'm on disability, but I live in Australia so I can't comment on the way the USA assesses pensions, but I'll tell you how it works here.

We're permitted lots of assets, like one house, one car, one caravan, etc.... and we can have a certain amount in the bank (I think it's about $70,000 but I could be wrong). Also we're allowed to earn $62 without penalty, before our pension is cut. After that our allowance is then reduced by 50 cents for each dollar above $62, up to and including $250, then 60 cents for each dollar over $250.

Even though the numbers will be different, I wonder if your pensions might be assessed in a similar manner.

I'll be taking out my superannuation in about 18 months and it depends what I do with it as to whether my pension suffers or not. If I make money off it (like interest) my pension would suffer, but if I spent it all as in paying off the mortgage, my disability wouldn't suffer at all.

I'm hoping some-one with more relevant American information will step in.