SSDI Income Limits: When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), it’s important to know the income limits to make sure you meet the requirements.
A big part of figuring out if you can get SSDI payments is how much unearned income you have. Let’s talk about what “unearned income” is and how it can affect your disabled payments.
By definition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) says that unearned income is any money you get without working for it. This can include a number of sources, such as
- Investment income is money you make from investing in stocks, bonds, or other things.
- Rental income is the money you get from letting out your home.
- Pension or retirement benefits are regular payments you get from a pension or retirement plan.
- gift: Getting money or things through a gift.
- Gifts are money or things that someone gives you as a gift.
To keep things clear, unearned income is not the same as earned income, which includes things like pay or salaries from working.
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How much money can I make before it changes my SSDI?
When it comes to SSDI, the Social Security Administration uses specific rules to figure out how your unpaid income affects your ability to get benefits. The SSA uses two main criteria to decide if you are eligible:
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): This is the most money that the SSA thinks a disabled person can make each month while still being unable to do substantial gainful activity. The SGA limit for 2023 is $1,350 per month for people who aren’t blind and $2,260 per month for people who are blind.
Second, there is the Trial Work Period (TWP). If you are working, the SSA lets you receive more than the SGA limit during this time without affecting your benefits. In the year 2023, a trial work period month is any month when you make more than $940.
Figuring out unearned income
The SSA looks at both earned and unpaid income when deciding who can get SSDI. If your total income, which includes both earned and unpaid money, is higher than the SGA limit, it could affect your ability to get benefits.
For example, if you get $500 a month from SSDI and an extra $800 a month from unearned income, for a total of $1,300 a month, you would still be able to meet the SGA cap for people who are not blind.
Understanding the ins and outs of unearned income and how it affects SSDI approval is very important for people who are applying for disability payments. Getting help from a mobility supporter or lawyer can help you understand your situation better and make sure the application process goes smoothly.
