[ezdzit]

I've been bipolar and on disability for 12 years. I tried to go to work once, but after a few weeks got so overwhelmed and depressed that I had to be hospitalized for depression. I've been hospitalized for clinical depression or mania about 15 times over the last 12 years.

Recently a friend of mine said he would build a website where I could sell books on spirituality and maybe write a related blog.

I'm just concerned that I will loose my SSDI if I do that. I've spoken to three attorneys and none of them will give me advice. They've all said talk to SSA.

Anybody else done something like this?

[kaliope]

I am not certain the specifics, but I know you can make a certain amount of money without it affecting your disability. there was a guy that worked parttime at my work who was on disability and as long as he only worked part time he still got to collect his disability payments. you would have to check with ssa to find out what the cap on that is. welcome to psych central. you will find we have several forums where you can post about your concerns and receive feedback from other members. you will get a lot of support here. again, welcome

[avlady]

I was wondering the same thing too, does anyone know the cap pay that a person on social security can recieve?

[epiphany39]

not sure, they screw me every month .. my hubby can make 900 dollars before they start deducting from my check .. I think I am allowed 200.00 before they start deducting from my check.

however I learned ssa doesn't always follow the rules and sometimes the worker just does it they way they want .. been on it since 1995 those people judge me treat me like I am retarded. I have had them call me into their office and harrasses me saying i wasn't disabled I had to remind the lady that the psyc for them said I was and who was she to say. Then another time called me in said my hubby had two jobs .. and wasn't turning in all the income, my retort was how could he be in two places at the same time .. They even have to put down on their paper that I get food stamps even though I don't just so they don't deduct more money .. because if you are able to get money from someplace and don't take it then they deduct money for you not taking it. however if I got 20 bucks in food stamps they take 23.00 out of my check for that .. so I get no where even lose a few dollars so they lie on the paper. good luck with ssa they treat everybody like crap.

[ezdzit]

Originally Posted by avlady

I was wondering the same thing too, does anyone know the cap pay that a person on social security can recieve?

The official 2014 cap is $1,070.

I don't have enough posts so I can't include the link, but you can google it.
Search: SGA income 2014 SSDI

But my research says anything over $600 will cause a review. If you are the only one who operates the business, then I've read any money you make is substantial gainful activity. But in other places, I've read that there are people who own their own business.

It's very confusing. The best thing I can think of is to find someone who is actually doing it. That's why I was hoping someone would respond.

[thickntired]

I've read through a lot of the SS booklets. Basically they have a trial work period or vocational training like ticket to work. From everything I can read between the lines any job at any level, pay or hours is a sign that a person is no longer disabled period. Mental illness is the first disability to be cut for working. There are security nets in place if you try and it doesn't work out, but I wouldn't count on disability and PT work as a long term plan. It sucks because I can't get my health benefits this cheap off ssdi.

[Fresia]

You have one 9 month trial work period (TWP) in your lifetime before you could lose your SSDI. The nine months do not have to be consecutive and to count as a trial work period month, you have to earn $770 or more (is this year's amount). If you earn 769.99 or under, it does not count as a trial work period month.

Contact Social Security to find out more.

[ezdzit]

Originally Posted by Fresia

You have one 9 month trial work period (TWP) in your lifetime before you could lose your SSDI. The nine months do not have to be consecutive and to count as a trial work period month, you have to earn $770 or more (is this year's amount). If you earn 769.99 or under, it does not count as a trial work period month.

Contact Social Security to find out more.

Thanks everyone.

I spoke to an attorney about the matter a few weeks ago. He told me not to do anything.

He said that even though I wasn't doing any work on the website and the web guy was maintaining the site (being paid from the profits) it wouldn't matter. To the SS I was self employed and I would loose my benefits. (The website would have been making about $500 - $900/mo based on what the web-guy told me.)

It sucks. I have been hospitalized for either depression or "hyperactivity" bordering on mania 11 times in the last 15 years. I started to go back to work thinking I was feeling better, but got so overwhelmed that I had to be hospitalized for depression.

On my level of income and where I live, its been very hard to pay all the bills. I owe about $8000 - $10000 in medical bills that haven't been completely paid off because of all the hospitalizations I've had. When my friend told me about his idea and the web guy said I could pay him 1/2 up front and 1/2 after I started making money (he's also a friend), I though I could see light at the end of the tunnel. But the light turned out to be a train.

The irony is that if I had a lot of money and an investor in land -- like buying houses, fixing them up, and selling houses, or renting them out -- which is much, much more work than I would every be doing, the SS doesn't consider this working.

That's the stupid thing about it.

[thickntired]

I am so sorry 😔
I am also so frustrated because I too would like to work but full time scares me. My medicare is great coverage I can't afford to lose. On a PT salary I'd make the same income trying to pay for Obamacare. Also, my mental health is so unpredictable. The PhD who did my assessment for disability said I could get a job but couldn't sustain employment. He was exactly right.