What Is Considered Income For Social Security Disability

What Is Passive Income

Passive income refers to income that takes little effort to both receive and maintain. The earner of the passive income will not directly participate materially in the business activities related to it. Many government agencies, including the United States Internal Revenue Service, consider these earnings as separate from earned income through regular, contractual, or self-employment and will not always levy standard income tax on these earnings.

How Much Work Do You Need

In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits.

Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year.

The amount needed for a work credit changes from year to year. In 2021, for example, you earn one credit for each $1,470 in wages or self-employment income. When you’ve earned $5,880, you’ve earned your four credits for the year.

The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

For more information on whether you qualify, refer to How You Earn Credits.

Is Disability Income Considered Ssi

We manage two programs that provide benefits based on disability or blindness, the Social Security Disability Insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income program. SSDI provides benefits to disabled or blind persons who are insured by workers contributions to the Social Security trust fund.

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Who Will Supplemental Security Income Help

Currently, the only recipients in the Special Income Level group whose eligibility is not impacted are those receiving Supplemental Security Income . Non-SSI recipients would fall into the Special Income Level group even if the income is less than $750 and could be impacted by the budget cuts. Waiver recipients will lose waiver benefits unless they are eligible and receive SSI.

We recommend you apply for SSI if you have not already done so in order to protect your current Medicaid eligibility. It can sometimes take around six months for an SSI eligibility determination to be made by the federal government.

Disability Benefits And The Eitc

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for low-income working families and individuals. Since the IRS is clear that disability benefits are not considered earned income, these benefits cant be used to claim this credit. You must have worked and made an income to get this tax credit.

It can be difficult to navigate both Social Security administration rules in conjunction with IRS tax laws alone. It would be beneficial to hire a disability lawyer to help make sure youve received the benefits youre entitled to, as well as report the right amounts of earned and unearned income.

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You Fail To Follow Prescribed Therapy

If you are being treated by a doctor, but fail to follow the doctor’s prescribed therapy when you have the ability to do so, you can be denied disability benefits. However, the SSA recognizes certain legitimate excuses for failing to follow the doctor’s orders .

Acceptable medical excuses. Failure to follow prescribed therapy can be excused for reasons beyond your control. Some examples follow.

• You have a mental illness so severe that you cannot comply with prescribed therapy.
• You have a fear of surgery so intense that surgery would not be appropriate. Your treating doctor must confirm the severity of your fear to the DDS consulting doctor.
• You physically cannot follow prescribed therapy without assistancefor example, because of paralysis of the arms or cataracts caused by diabetes.

Acceptable nonmedical excuses. It is possible that you cannot follow a prescribed therapy for a reason that has nothing to do with your medical condition. Acceptable nonmedical excuses for failing to follow prescribed therapy follow.

• You don’t have the money to pay for treatment.
• Your religious beliefs prohibit you from receiving medical therapy.
• Your doctor prescribes treatment that another doctor disagrees with.

For more information, see Nolo’s article on the impact of failing to follow prescribed treatment.

When Doesmedicare Or Medicaid Start

SSDI recipients arent eligible to receive Medicare benefitsuntil two years after their date of entitlement to SSDI . Because it oftentakes a year or two to be approved for disability benefits, however, SSDIrecipients often become eligible for Medicare soon after they get their awardletter from Social Security.

In the states where Medicaid eligibility is automatic for SSIrecipients, there is no waiting period for SSI recipients to receive Medicaid.In other states, you need to apply separately for Medicaid, but there is nowaiting period.

Each state sets its own eligibility requirements for Medicaid, including income limits.

Medicaid uses the Federal Poverty Level as a benchmark to determine ones eligibility. In most states that grant Medicaid to low-income adults, individuals are eligible for Medicaid if they have an income that is at or below 150% of the FPL. The state in which you live and the type of Medicaid you are applying for may dictate a different income amount.

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Determining Whether Ltd Benefits Are Taxable Or Not

Fortunately, you dont have to strain yourself trying to remember who paid your disability insurance premiums. If you become eligible for benefits, your insurance carrier will notify you whether your benefits are taxable and, if so, will withhold the appropriate amount of taxes from the payments it sends you.

What Is The Difference Between Ssi And Ssdi

SSI eligibility is determined based on age, disability and available resources, while SSDI is based on a persons disability and work credits.

For most people, medical requirements that will allow you to receive disability payments are the same for both, and disability is determined using the same process. Both SSI and SSDI are managed by the Social Security Administration as well.

The most notable difference between SSI and SSDI is that SSDI is only available to people who have accumulated enough work credits, while SSI is available to low-income individuals who have not accumulated enough work credits or who have never worked. In addition, SSDI is based on your work history, but SSI is strictly based on a financial situation of considerable need.

Additionally, SSI benefits begin on the first of the month that a social security disability application is submitted and approved, but for SSDI there is a five-month waiting period. People who qualify for SSI can also receive Medicaid benefits. After receiving SSDI benefits for two years, a disabled person will be eligible for Medicare benefits. The amount of SSI benefits depend on where a person lives and what their monthly income is, while SSDI benefit amounts are dependent on a persons earnings record.

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You Paid Premiums With After

If you paid your share of an employer-sponsored long-term disability premium with post-tax dollars, then only part of your disability insurance payments is taxable.

For example, suppose your employer pays 60% of your disability insurance premium. You pay the remaining cost with after-tax dollars. In this case, youll only have to pay taxes on 60% of your long-term disability benefit payments.

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Can You Do Any Other Type Of Work

If you cant do the work you did in the past, we look to see if there is other work you could do despite your medical impairment.

We consider your medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have. If you cant do other work, well decide you are disabled. If you can do other work, well decide that you dont have a qualifying disability and your claim will be denied.

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What Is A Social Security Card

Your Social Security card is an important piece of identification. You’ll need one to get a job, collect Social Security, or receive other government benefits.

When you apply for a Social Security number , the Social Security Administration will assign you a nine-digit number. This is the same number that is printed on the Social Security card that SSA will issue you. If you change your name, you will need to get a corrected card.

Most Disabled Beneficiaries Do Not Owe Taxes

In practice, many SSDI beneficiaries do not face this problem because their overall income is too low to meet the tax threshold. These benefits are designed to support people who are unable to work because of serious illness, as the SSA strictly limits the amount of income you can earn from work while still maintaining your eligibility for SSDI. In 2021, the income limit for most beneficiaries is $1,310 per month.

According to the SSA, approximately one-third of disabled beneficiaries pay taxes on their benefits. When they do this, it is usually because of other family income, such as a spouses income.

Knowing whether you will have to pay taxes on your disability benefit payments can be confusing. Our San Antonio Social Security disability lawyerhas many years of experience helping clients get the benefits they deserve.

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Supplemental Security Income Overview

WHAT IS SSI?

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. Social Security administers this program. We pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children may also get SSI.

HOW IS SSI DIFFERENT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

Many people who are eligible for SSI may also be entitled to Social Security benefits. In fact, the application for SSI is also an application for Social Security benefits. However, SSI and Social Security are different in many ways.

HOW IS SSI LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

Both programs pay monthly benefits.

The medical standards for disability are generally the same in both programs for individuals age 18 or older. For children from birth to the attainment of age 18 there is a separate definition of disability under SSI. The medical standard is based on the severity of your disability financial need is not considered at this step in the eligibility process.

SSA administers both programs.

How To Make Sure You Dont Lose Your Ssdi Benefits

If youre thinking about applying for disability but are still employed, or if youve been receiving benefits but are considering part-time work to help make ends meet, its crucial that you get all the facts before making any decisions that could put your disability benefits in jeopardy.

To get help with applying for Social Security programs, appealing a decision, or just to talk about all your legal options, consider contacting an experienced Social Security disability lawyer at Social Security Disability Advocates USA.

Our friendly legal team will schedule a free consultation to review your case and help you understand the possible impacts of SSDI income limits. Call us today at , chat with us via LiveChat, or send us a message using our secure contact form.

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What You Needto Know About The Social Security Earnings Test And Income Limit

The first thing toknow is that, right now, the earnings limit only applies before your full retirement age. Once you reach your fullretirement age, you can earn a bazillion dollars and continue to receive yourfull Social Security benefit.

Because fullretirement age differs based on your year of birth, we need to take a quicklook at the table so youll know exactly when your full retirement age is.

• If you were born between 1943 and 1954,your full retirement age is 66.
• For 1955, the age is 66 and 2 months.
• For 1956, its 66 and 4 months.
• For 1957 the age is 66 and 6 months.
• For 1958, full retirement age is 66 and8 months.
• For 1959, its 66 and 10 months.
• For those born in 1960 or later, thefull retirement age is set at age 67.

Obviously, thecurrent full retirement age if you were born after 1960 is subject to changewith the proposals floating around to fix Social Security but this is wherewe are right now.

Special Rules For People Who Are Blind Or Have Low Vision

We consider you to be legally blind under Social Security rules if your vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye or if your visual field is 20 degrees or less, even with a corrective lens. Many people who meet the legal definition of blindness still have some sight and may be able to read large print and get around without a cane or a guide dog.

If you do not meet the legal definition of blindness, you may still qualify for disability benefits if your vision problems alone or combined with other health problems prevent you from working.

There are a number of special rules for people who are blind that recognize the severe impact of blindness on a person’s ability to work. For example, the monthly earnings limit for people who are blind is generally higher than the limit that applies to non-blind disabled workers.

In 2021, the monthly earnings limit is $2,190.

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Appealing Denied Social Security Disability Application

Its common for applicants to be denied. In fact, only about 1 in 3 applicants are initially approved for SSDI benefits. The two main reasons for denial are usually a lack of work credits, or that applicants do not meet the criteria for disability.

If you have been turned down, you do have the right to go through a Social Security Disability appeal process. Either you or your designated representative can file a Request for Reconsideration. Your initial appeal will then be turned over to Disability Determination Services, who will thoroughly review your file.

If you are denied again, you can proceed to the next level of appeal which is to appear in front of an Administrative Law Judge. An Administrative Law Judge will conduct a hearing in which all of your medical records and testimony will be heard before the judge renders a decision in the form of a written notice.

If you are still denied benefits, then you have a final appeal step you can take: filing a lawsuit in U.S. district court. You will need an attorney for this step if you havent already retained one. This can be an expensive and time consuming option, and as a result, less than 1% of disability claimants take their cases to this level.

Social Security Income Limit: What Counts As Income

You may already knowthat if youre under full retirement age and file for Social Security benefits,theres a limit to the amount of income you can make before your benefit isreduced or shut off completely.

But theres one bigquestion that keeps coming up when I talk to people about this topic: Whatcounts as income?

Today, lets find theanswer. Ill cover what the Social Security Administration considers income aswell as what doesnt count on yourearnings test.

Before we get there,lets go over a quick overview of how the earnings test for determining whetheror not youre hitting the earnings or income limit works.

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If You’re Not Sure Why You Received A Payment

Contact the authorizing agency directly to find out why they sent the payment. You may be able to find the authorizing agency in the memo line of the check. View this diagram of a sample Treasury check to help you locate the authorizing agency contact information on your own check. Scroll about half way down the page to see the diagram.

If you’re unable to find which agency authorized the payment, . They can help you determine which government agency you need to contact. To find which RFC you need to call, look for its city and state at the top center of the check.

Use the Treasury Check Verification System to verify that the check is legitmate and issued by the government.

Getting A Social Security Number For A New Baby

The easiest way to get a Social Security number for your child is at the hospital after they are born when you apply for your childs birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, there may be delays while SSA verifies your childs birth certificate.

Your child will need their own Social Security number so you can:

• Claim your child as a dependent on your income tax return
• Open a bank account in their name
• Get medical coverage for them
• Apply for government services for them

Keep your Social Security card in a safe place to protect yourself from identity theft.

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How To Apply For Long Term Disability

You apply for long-term disability benefits by filling out forms. In other words, you are submitting an application or claim. Then, you simply send the completed forms to the insurance company. After that, they assign an insurance representative to review your claim.

There are three forms you must fill out, or arrange to be filled out:

• Notice of Claim You fill this out
• Employers Report Your employer fills this out
• Medical Report Your doctor fills this out

You can get these forms from your employer. If you are already dealing with the insurance company, then they may give them to you. But, its up to you to arrange for everyone to fill out the forms.

What to learn more about applying for long-term disability? Check out our 7-Step Guide on How to Apply for Long-term Disability