Working Online
 

I've read too many horror stories of people working under the Substantial Gainful Activity and still being cut off from SSD because of their demonstrated ability to cope in the workplace.. which leads me to ask if working online is the only refuge in being able to supplement your SSD income.. Now my focus has been on web development, online marketing etc.

It still has to be reported if you gain financially. I'm guessing you will also have to explain why you can sit at a desk and work on a computer at home, but not in an office.

I hope we won't be reading about your horror story one day.

nahh.. I'm too tricky

Guess it depends on your disability...One good thing about working from home vs. in the office is that you when things get too bad you can always take a break and lay down etc. whenever you need too. Then again, it still didn't work too good for me when my job set me up at home because I found myself laying down more than I was working because I was too weak to sit at the computer for more than an hour at a time no matter where I was on my worse days back then.

Don't know if I would try that to be honest with you. But that's just me, I've always been known to be extra cautious. :)

It is still working and since your goal is to make money, SSA needs to evaluate whether or not the work is SGA. Now if your plan is to hide the work activity and commit deliberate fraud on SSA and IRS, I think you are adding layer level of paranoia to what you may already have. Work and making money often leaves a paper trail that can be followed. But it is your life.

Nahh Janke, I would legally report it.. What I was wondering is that there are a lot of people even on this forum who would like to supplement their SSD for less than SGA.. Now understandably, a lot of people who do work in the normal world that are collecting SSD and working under SGA are still cut off because they are deemed ready to function in the workplace.. However, working at home online for just a little supplemental income I think could hardly be seen as something that would constitute someone no longer being disabled, but I might be mistaken

thats what everyone thinks until they get busted

What are you talking about busted? For the second time I'm not speaking of doing anything 'illegal'. I meant tricky as in studying and trying to toe the exact line of what is allowable and what would threaten my SSD

mea culpa.

I have no idea what your disability is but I will tell you what I have been saying since I have registered on this board. My lawyer who has been representing clients for over 30 years. The last 7 for Allsup told me that if I try to work even part time there is a great chance I would lose my benefits when the review came. He told me to make sure that when you try to get a job it is something you want to do as it will probably replace your SSDI payments. Last month someone I know that has depression issues and seizures was informed he will be getting his last 2 months of payments. All he did was work 10-15 hours a week in a library doing various jobs. I won for basically mental issues. So he told me once they see you out there in the public working it is all over with. Good Luck to you! I want to find something myself as I am tired of not being a productive member in society. But I would have to find a job that pays $15-17 an hour to replace my disability. And I dont think I could hold down a 40 hour week job yet. But hopefully some day.

Re: money
 

Hi, and I am sorry all of us are in this fix. No we reallly should not work at all or they will take the benefits away. I don't want to do anything to risk that. However, I am loosing my home. I need more than I recieve to pay for my bills. This puts you in the position of going into public housing. I do one thing I do not think I can get in trouble for. About once a month I have a garage sale, encluding art work that I gave to my neighbor. I gave to her my things and she makes a little money. Money never touches my hands, nor do I recieve it. I needed brakes on my car or I could not drive, and insurance. For months she saved for me and then took my car in herself. How else can you do these things and keep the ability to get to your appts? If this is illegal in any way I would not do it. My para legal, who went to court with me said this was an OK thing to do. Is my son not allowed to pay for my haircut? All kinds of issues crop up for all of us, and there is a true struggle to survive on a daily basis. Most of us are just trying to survive this way. I want to know why our gov. makes this dissability into a punishment where you are not allowed to better yourself. That seems so un-american to me. ginnie

I agree with you ginnie. When I really think about how little my SSDI check is per month I shake my head. Don't get me wrong, I thank and praise God that I'm getting a SSDI check every month. I waited for three years for approval and understand that so many are still waiting.I also have a husband who works fulltime so we are not in jeopardy of losing our home. I pray that his job will continue far into the future so at least I don't have to worry about that. I'm just saying that times are really hard when the amount you receive once a month is limited and hasn't increased at all for the past three years yet the cost of gas per gallon is increasing on a daily basis.

We have two children and I receive monthly benefits for them as well. I was just thinking about what our financial situation will be like when they are 18 and I no longer receive monthly benefits for them. Right now we are using the money for living expenses but in three years my son will be going to college, our funds will be less yet we will need even more money.

I can't even think about working just to supplement my SSDI because my health will not allow it now or ever, but it would be nice if Uncle Sam understood that being able to work 15 hours a week while living with a disability doesn't mean that one is able to work fulltime to support themselves by any means.

I'll continue to trust and pray that God will meet all of our needs both now and in the future.

Praying for everyone,
Shari

Hi shari
 

I am gratefull for my benefits too Shari, I just thought I would be allowed a bit more. Belive me if I could go back to work, I would in a minute because living in this poverty is so hard to do. I do thank God that even this small amount come, as without it, I would be homeless for sure. ginnie Good luck to your whole family.:hug:

I know you explained it, but you sounded shady. And your explanation didn't make sence....to me anyway, but then nothing makes sence to me, so I may be wrong. I hope you weren't being shady.

Thanks ginnie,
I agree with you 100% I think we all would prefer working over receiving a monthly check from the government because we cannot.

Good Luck to your whole family too :)

I'm too tricky to lose my SSD unwittingly like a lot of unfortunate people do, I don't know how plain I can say it.

Back on topic, I think its unfortunate if it's true that you can't supplement your SSD at all without raising the eyebrows of SSA.. Then what is the point of the SGA of 1000$?.. for many disabled people SSD barely gets them by, and just sitting at the computer earning a little supplemental income should not automatically mean someone can work in the workplace. I think I will contact an SSD lawyer about this as well

:I-Agree: My thoughts exactly

You are exactly right "just sitting at the computer earning a little supplemental income should not automatically mean someone can work in the workplace.". However, I would think if you repeatedly make $900 each month (with your trickery to not go over), you will likely prompt a review and say you could use those skills you've displayed in support of yourself...and it's doesn't have to be in a workplace. It could be at home also (there are many home based companies). They don't care where you work, just whether you CAN. And you will show them you CAN with your idea/plan.

Asking a lawyer would be a good idea. Maybe you can post his/her reply here so we all can learn from what is said.

So what is so bad about "raising the eybrows of SSA"? What matters is the end result; does the work you are doing demonstrate that you have significant medical improvement and are no longer disabled.

Like everything else in SSA, these decisions will be done on case by case with the details that apply to each person. There are general guidelines that need to be followed. Contact all the lawyers you want. I would guess that most of them would give the advice that protects their own back, and that would be to play it safe and don't attempt to use the work incentives. At least then, the lawyer is off the hook if your work activity later demonstrates the ability to work. Can't go back and sue for malpractice if the lawyer said not to go to work.

If you do go to work, there will be more to report to SSA. You need to keep pay stubs; may want to keep track of the hours it takes you to do the work that a non-disabled person would do faster, keep proof that you are not engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity.

You are the only one who knows if you are willing to do it.

Why not get the info straight from the horses mouth?!?!?

Welcome to The Work Site

Or read the booklet that you received when you were approved for SSDI. Wealth of info.