other sources of income while on disability

AngMichelle, I do a bit of crafting - and I sell what I make. Our rules here are probably a bit different to yours (I'm on a Disability Support Pension & am allowed to work up to 8 hours a week, after that my DSP payments are penalised) - but as I'm never going to be working that much in my current state it doesn't matter.

But I make soaps/body products, and also make teddy bears & just starting to learn how to make handbags & purses. Most of my bears and bags are sold through friends and word of mouth before I can list them anywhere, and I have a site made through Weebly where I sell my soaps. More important to me than the money though is the distraction and the satisfaction of feeling that I'm doing 'something' - it still hurts having to resign my job and I need something to deal with that.

I was going to say exactly what M&G said and if your being paid through PayPal and the vast majority of online sale's are they will find it eventually. You could end up losing benefits altogether, or alot monthly, be charged with fraud and the same with fs and medical. If they find you have a way of making money that's a job potential and ability and you won't qualify as a disabled person under the guidelines and yes they consider flipping items for profit a career. Remember under the rules you only have to have the ability to earn any wages for any suitable time and that's part time as well. I actually know two ppl who lost their disability status over volunteer work they did because the work they were performing could earn a wage. Be very careful there.

I'm not on disability but may be going on it soon, but one of my sources of income is art. When I'm well enough, I do art - mostly tattoo commissions - and that's not bad. Usually $50 a pop, every month or so. Not much, but hey, a little extra here and there is nice.

This sounds odd, but I also make money every so often by "conlanging" - constructing languages for people who do D&D RPG campaigns or other RPGs. I was a theoretical linguistics major for a while and I studied under someone who does this sort of stuff seriously, and it's a lot of fun to work on them, though it's a demanding labor of love. I get a little money shuffled towards me for the use of my langs, but honestly, I'd do it for free. :)

SSI is based on income, resources and disability. When you apply for SSI you agree to tell SSA of any changes within 10 working days. You have to report earned as well as unearned income for SSI. For SSI, money earned at a garage sale is suppose to be reported as unearned income. Do most people do it, no. But, it is a gamble. You also give SSA permission to check your bank account and any and all other places to verify if you're receiving or have income and/or resources or are working. Usually SSA depends on the state food stamp offices to gather this info and let them know if something isn't right.

When someone receives SSI their earned income counts in 2 different ways. It is counted against the monthly SSI amount and may reduce the amount of your monthly SSI benefits. When it reachs SGA, you're no loger considered disabled. So the amount someone who receives SSI makes from working may reduce their SSI to 0, but as long as it is under SGA they will still be considered disabled, as long as they meet the medical criteria for disability. Their Medicaid should also continue as long as SSA considers them disabled, even if the are making too much to receive their monthly SSI benefits.


SSDI is based on work credits and disability. Income and resource Do Not count for SSDI. You are suppose to let SSA know if you go to work. SSA looks at earned income that is SGA, which is $1070 a month in 2014.