Will SSDI be reduced if I rollover traditional IRA to Roth IRA? Taxable income increase concern
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle and could use some advice. I'm thinking about rolling over my traditional IRA into a Roth IRA, but I'm worried it might affect my SSDI benefits. Does anyone know if the increase in taxable income from this rollover could potentially reduce my SSDI payments? I'm really trying to make the best financial decision here, but I don't want to accidentally mess up my benefits. Any insights or experiences would be super helpful!
24 comments
Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve SSDI impact of IRA rollover, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXoaQwcZ1nw
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CosmicCadet
I've been through this rodeo before, and let me tell you, it's a doozy. From what I understand, SSDI isn't means-tested like SSI, so your assets shouldn't affect your eligibility. However, and this is a big however, the taxable income from the rollover could potentially push you over the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. You might wanna talk to a financial advisor or someone at the SSA to get the nitty-gritty details for your specific situation.
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Liam O'Connor
This is solid advice. I'd def recommend talking to a pro before making any big moves. Better safe than sorry, ya know?
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Amara Adeyemi
Wait, so SSDI isnt affected by assets at all? I thought all these gov't programs were the same. Learn something new everyday I guess 🤔
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CosmicCadet
Yep, SSDI and SSI are different beasts. SSDI is based on your work history and disability status, while SSI looks at your income and resources. Easy to mix 'em up tho!
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Giovanni Gallo
Ugh, the whole system is so confusing! 🤯 I swear they make it complicated on purpose. Good luck figuring it out, OP. Let us know what you find out!
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone at SSA to ask about this stuff. There's this site called claimyr.com that has a calling tool. It dials through the phone menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a real person picks up. It costs $20, but it saved me hours of hold time. Might be worth it if you need specific answers.
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Dylan Wright
Sounds too good to be true. Does it really work? $20 seems steep for a phone call.
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
I was skeptical too, but it worked for me. Beats sitting on hold for hours or trying to get through for days. Sometimes your time is worth more than the money, you know?
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NebulaKnight
Interesting. How long did it take for them to get someone on the line?
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
For me, it took about an hour and a half. But I didn't have to sit there listening to hold music the whole time. They called me when an agent was on the line.
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Sofia Ramirez
Here's the deal with SSDI and IRA rollovers: 1. SSDI benefits are not means-tested, so the amount of money in your IRA doesn't affect your eligibility. 2. However, the taxable income from converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA could potentially impact your benefits indirectly. 3. The conversion is treated as income in the year it occurs, which could: a) Make a portion of your SSDI benefits taxable if your total income exceeds certain thresholds. b) Potentially affect your eligibility for other income-based programs or benefits. 4. It shouldn't affect your SSDI payment amount directly, as SSDI is based on your earnings record, not current income. 5. Be aware of the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, which is $1,470 per month for non-blind individuals in 2023. My advice? Consider spreading the conversion over several years to minimize the impact on your yearly income. And definitely consult with a tax professional or financial advisor who specializes in disability benefits before making any moves.
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Mei Chen
Wow, thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! This really helps clarify things. I'll definitely look into spreading out the conversion like you suggested.
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Dmitry Popov
This is why I love this community. Always coming through with the good info! 👏👏👏
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Ava Rodriguez
have you considerd just not reporting the rollover? 😏 what the government doesnt know wont hurt em right lol
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Miguel Ortiz
Dude, no. That's literally tax fraud. Don't even joke about that stuff here.
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Ava Rodriguez
chill bro it was just a joke 🙄
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Zainab Khalil
I went through something similar last year. Ended up not doing the rollover because I was too worried about messing up my benefits. The peace of mind was worth more than the potential tax savings for me. But everyone's situation is different!
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QuantumQuest
Quick question - how long have you been on SSDI? If it's been less than 24 months, there might be some additional considerations to keep in mind.
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Mei Chen
I've been on SSDI for about 3 years now. Does that change anything?
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QuantumQuest
Ah, gotcha. In that case, you're past the trial work period and extended period of eligibility, so the main thing to watch out for is just staying under that SGA limit others have mentioned.
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Connor Murphy
Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone else noticed that the SSA's website has been extra glitchy lately? Tried to check my benefit status yesterday and kept getting error messages. 🙄
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Yara Haddad
Omg yes! I thought it was just me. That site is held together with duct tape and prayers I swear
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Keisha Robinson
Remember, whatever you decide, document EVERYTHING. Keep records of all your communications with SSA, any calculations you do, and the reasoning behind your decisions. It'll save you a headache if you ever get audited or have to appeal anything.
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