How To Work Part Time While Disabled
Social Security pays benefits to qualified persons who can't work because of a serious medical condition that's expected to last a year or more, or that might result in death. No money is available to people with short-term or partial disability, and those who can work are expected to. But because disability benefits provide only for bare essentials, many on the dole choose to supplement their income by working part time.
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Instructions
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Get on disability. Many impairments can potentially qualify you for disability payments, including high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, heart failure and certain mental conditions. The standard, however, is always the person's inability to earn. Disability payments are based on how much the individual has paid into the Social Security system, with a minimum employment of 5 out of the last 10 years for persons over 31.
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Get a part-time job. Not only is it possible to work while on disability, it's expected! The federal government has several programs for hiring disabled workers, especially military veterans. Other organizations such as Hire Deaf; Community Options, Inc.; and National Organization on Disability specialize in placing disabled persons in part-time work. The kinds of jobs for which a disabled worker might be suited depend on their specific abilities, but in many cases the jobs require minimal physical effort and are not highly stressful. These can include mail sorting, store greeting or even some retail sales. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a Social Security program that helps those receiving disability benefits identify their existing job skills and obtain the education or training they might need to become self-sufficient.
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Keep careful records. A part-time worker can only get disability payments while they earn below the Substantial Gainful Activity threshold, which in 2008 was $940 per month, though less restrictive requirements apply to the blind. If you wind up consistently earning beyond the threshold, the most likely place this will be identified is on your annual tax return, but by then it will be too late. Therefore, keep careful weekly and monthly records of all income and try to stay below the threshold to maintain Disability. Check with the Social Security department each year to identify the current threshold as it is subject to cost of living changes.
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Tips & Warnings
The assessment of a person's ability to perform work can be subjective, and will depend upon level of education, mental state and physical capacities.
Even if your disability prevents you from working your regular job, you might be expected to perform other work according to your abilities, and might not qualify for disability if your earning potential exceeds the threshold.
