Will my disabled daughter's SSI eligibility be affected by her new minimum wage job and the $2000 asset limit?

Congratulations to your daughter on her new job! This is a great step for her independence. You definitely need to report the new job to SSA within 10 days of her starting work. For the resource limit - yes, SSI has that strict $2000 limit, but there are several options: 1. An ABLE account would be perfect for her situation. Since her disability began before age 26, she qualifies. She can save up to $18,000/year in an ABLE account without it counting toward the SSI resource limit. 2. Look into the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program which allows saving for specific work goals. 3. The first $85 of monthly earnings is excluded, then SSI is reduced by $1 for every $2 earned. Make sure to keep all pay stubs and report wages monthly. The SSA app makes reporting much easier now.

my sons on ssi to and got job last year. yea u gotta report it quick or theyll say its overpayment later and make u pay it ALL back. they cut his check some but he still gets medicaid which was most importint for us

SSA is TERRIBLE with the asset limit!!! It hasnt been updated since like 1989!! $2000 was maybe ok back then but now??? How is anyone supposed to live?? My nephew has to spend down every month just to keep his benefits and its RIDICULOUS. The whole system is designed to keep disabled people poor. And dont even get me started on trying to get married, that's a whole other nightmare with SSI...

Your timing for setting up an ABLE account is perfect. These accounts were specifically designed for people like your daughter who became disabled before age 26. The funds in an ABLE account don't count against that $2000 resource limit. To set one up, you don't go through SSA - you choose a state program. You don't have to use your own state's program either. Some popular ones are Ohio's STABLE Account program and Virginia's ABLEnow. Compare fees and investment options. As for reporting the job, do it immediately through the SSA mobile app or by calling. Track every penny she earns because SSI will reduce benefits approximately $1 for every $2 earned after the first $85 in monthly income. One more thing - she might qualify for the Student Earned Income Exclusion if she's also in any kind of educational program. This would allow her to earn even more without reducing benefits.

I spent THREE DAYS last month trying to reach someone at SSA about my daughter's similar situation - kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person at SSA in under 30 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Worth it for reporting the job and asking specific questions about your daughter's situation. The rep I talked to was actually super helpful explaining exactly how much my daughter could earn before it affected her benefits.

Don't forget work expenses related to her disability! If she has any work expenses related to her hearing impairment (special equipment, hearing aid batteries, etc.) those can be deducted as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) before they calculate how much to reduce her SSI payment. Most people forget about this and leave money on the table!!!

For IRWE documentation, keep receipts for everything and ask her doctor to write a letter stating these expenses are necessary for her to work given her hearing impairment. SSA will want to see the connection between the expense and enabling work. Regarding the ABLE account, there's another benefit I forgot to mention - she can use funds for "qualified disability expenses" which include education, housing, transportation, employment training, assistive technology, personal support services, health, and basic living expenses. Very flexible! And since she's now working, look into the Ticket to Work program if she wants to increase her hours eventually. It provides job training and employment support while protecting benefits during the transition period.

i have question does anyone know if buyin a car counts against the $2000?? my uncle wants to help me buy a used car but im worried it will make me lose my ssi

Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice! I spoke with SSA yesterday (and yes, I did use Claimyr to get through quickly). The agent confirmed everything about the ABLE account and helped me understand exactly how my daughter's earnings will affect her SSI payment. I'm relieved to know she can save for her future while still maintaining some benefits and especially keeping her Medicaid. We're setting up the ABLE account this weekend, and I've started documenting all her hearing-related work expenses for those IRWE deductions. The agent said her benefits will decrease some, but with the combination of part-time work and reduced SSI, she'll actually have more monthly income overall, which is wonderful. Thanks again for helping us navigate this complicated system!