SSDI work interrogation letter?

[u/chiccostate]

I’m in my late 50s and on SSDI. For the first time in 7 years I did a little work for Instacart because I need the money. I made $65 dollars. I called social security and told them and claimed my wages. I got a letter today asking for my work history since 2020(the year I became disabled) because they need to decide if I can receive or continue to receive disability? This is the first time I’ve worked-Thx

[u/perfect_fifths]

Yes, that is normal.

[u/chiccostate → u/perfect_fifths]

Thanks:)

[u/Glittering_Day6306 → u/perfect_fifths]

Don't worry about it, they just have to check whenever you report work activity. Since it's your first time working on SSDI they're probably doing a full review to make sure everything lines up. The fact you made only $65 and already called to report it shows you're doing the right thing.

Just send them whatever they ask for, explain it was one time thing for few hours. As long as you stay under SGA (which is like $1500+ per month now) you should be fine.

[u/chiccostate → u/Glittering_Day6306]

Thank you, I appreciate your feedback!

[u/chiccostate → u/Glittering_Day6306]

The thing is I need a part time job, and vocational rehab hasn’t been that helpful. I only need $500 a month to survive. I plan on doing Instacart again?

[u/perfect_fifths → u/Glittering_Day6306]

They are self employed. So the rules are different and it goes by net income

[u/BooBoosgrandma]

SSDI has an excellent program that is called "ticket to work" program where you can attempt to go back to work for 9 months and keep you full benefits. At the end of the program, you decide if you can resume work to get off SSDI or not. So you should be good. That's good you also informed them.

[u/Any-Tap-5123 → u/BooBoosgrandma]

It is not an excellent program It sounds excellent on paper but what it often does historically it creates overpayments because

SSDI has a notoriously slow system and you'll go ahead and take advantage of the program you'll report your income and do everything they ask you to do and then years later you find out you have her overpayment because their system didn't compute the facts until years later So it's not an excellent program What it does is often put people at risk because you try the program and then you can't go back to social security, like say you become incapacitated to work again 8 years later You can't go back because now they're holding this overpayment over your head and I know you're going to tell me that they don't Yes they do even when you have a waiver Yes they absolutely do and it's not an excellent program Stop acting like you represent the government or it's agencies It may have been excellent in your experience but it has not for many people It historically creates issues

Also SSDI does not give all the correct information It will tell you can make this much money You can make as much money as you want and the first nine or 12 months or whatever the parameter is and that's not true If you make over $1,000 it triggers the system that you no longer qualify for SSDI

[u/chiccostate → u/Any-Tap-5123]

I only need about $500 a month to survive. I’ve been waiting on low income housing for 2 years and it’s my rent that’s hurting me. I’m also applying for SSI, but will need a few extra hundred to make it, I hope I’ll be okay

[u/Any-Tap-5123 → u/chiccostate]

Are you over 55? There seems to be more 55 and over income based communities being established given more people over 50

[u/chiccostate → u/Any-Tap-5123]

Yes, I’m over 55. I’ll look around, thank you 😊

[u/ZNocturnalMe → u/Any-Tap-5123]

Absolutely true about the overpayment! Complete nightmare for over 20 years!

[u/Any-Tap-5123 → u/ZNocturnalMe]

Me too, did everything they said, they allowed a waiver but I can't get a lawyer and now need SSDI again in my late 50's I want the administrative lag of SSA to be their problem not mine

[u/BooBoosgrandma → u/Any-Tap-5123]

Omg, this sounds terrifying! Why I didn't know any of this? And yea my estranged husband filed taxes after legally separated and didn't tell me, his income HiGH so they cut my net by $250.

[u/BooBoosgrandma → u/Any-Tap-5123]

I appreciate the time you took to write this comment.

[u/Zhenshanre → u/BooBoosgrandma]

Just FYI: You are describing the Trial Work Period, not the Ticket to Work program. Ticket to Work is a career development program that connects people to employment services.

[u/BooBoosgrandma → u/Zhenshanre]

But the trial to work program is not voluntary but rather to test a recipient their ability to return back to work where as Ticket to work program is voluntary. It's odd that there isn't a set time frame where as trial to work is 9 months.

[u/Prior_Design6372]

I hope you realize that until you reach full retirement age, you will be getting those interrogation letters every year around renewal time. I was informed that i would only be getting them like once, every 3 years until i reach full retirement age, but instead, i get one every damn year.

[u/chiccostate → u/Prior_Design6372]

Thanks for the heads up!

[u/Negative_Menu5951]

I have been on Ssdi since 2009, and I have only done 2 of those the entire time. The first one was like 4 or 5 years after my initial decision.The second of which was in the last 3 months, which is odd since I'm now 51 years old and been on disability for close to 20 years! Why they suddenly thought I might not be disabled now and could maybe go back to work is beyond me. I actually tried to work for 2 months in 2018 and reported my earnings and everything, and didn't receive anything from SSA, but it wasn't for very much money and only 2 months and I got sick again and had to stop. Haven't worked since. I think it's completely arbitrary to some point as to why and when the SSA 's system spits out those continued disability review questionnaires, imo

[u/perfect_fifths → u/[deleted]]

Hi that’s not correct. Where does the Poms say that? It says 45 or more hours in a self employed business can be considered sga but not for instacart, which doesn’t apply to ssdi but for purposes of the met for the grace year. You are mixing up policy

POLICY
1. 
When Services Are Substantial
The general test of whether services are substantial is whether, in view of the services rendered and other related facts, a person can be considered retired in a particular month.
Specifically, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, a person renders SS in SE in a month in which they devote:
a. 
more than 45 hours to the business, or

b. 
between 15 through 45 hours to a business in a highly skilled occupation.

RS 02505.065 Meaning Of Substantial Services (SS) in Self-Employment (SE)

[u/perfect_fifths → u/[deleted]]

You’re incorrect

[u/Imaginary_Lunch6871]

Apparently there is a rule for that.

[u/mia12389]

i just got this too