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.

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.

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

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.

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.