Will my disabled son's craft hobby affect his Social Security DAC survivor benefits?

This is a good question about how work activity impacts DAC benefits! The key factors SSA looks at are Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and whether your son is actually receiving income. Since all profits are being donated and he's not keeping any earnings, this shouldn't count as SGA or income that would affect his benefits. However, I would document everything carefully - keep clear records showing all proceeds are donated to the animal shelter. As for creating a nonprofit, that gets more complicated. Being an unpaid officer of a nonprofit typically doesn't affect benefits, but if he were to receive any compensation (even below SGA levels), it could potentially trigger a review. The nonprofit structure itself isn't the issue - it's whether he receives compensation.

my cousin had something similar with his Down syndrome daughter who makes jewelry. they told him as long as she wasn't making profit FOR HERSELF it didn't effect her SSI checks. But the social security people told him different things depending on who answered the phone!!! so frustrating

You need to be very careful here. While your son may not be keeping the profits now, SSA could potentially view this as an ability to perform SGA, which could trigger a medical review of his disability status. DAC benefits require that the disability began before age 22 AND that the person cannot perform SGA. The hobby itself isn't the issue - it's whether this activity demonstrates capacity for gainful work. I recommend reporting this activity to SSA for two reasons: 1) transparency prevents future problems, and 2) they might provide written guidance specific to your situation. Document EVERYTHING - all expenses, all donations, time spent on the activity. Never commingle these funds with personal accounts. Regarding the nonprofit question - forming one adds complexity without necessarily providing protection for his benefits. The administrative burden might outweigh any advantage.

Have you tried calling SSA directly? They're the only ones who can give you a definitive answer for your specific situation.

I went through something similar with my daughter who receives DAC benefits. She volunteers at an animal shelter and occasionally gets small gift cards as thank you gifts (like $25-50 per month). We contacted SSA and they confirmed this doesn't affect her benefits since it's not regular wages and falls under their income exclusions. For your situation, I'd definitely recommend documenting everything clearly. Keep separate bank accounts for the craft business, maintain clear records of all donations to the animal shelter, and have receipts for all expenses. Regarding forming a nonprofit - we looked into this too and decided against it. The paperwork and annual filing requirements were just too much hassle for a small operation. Instead, we just keep meticulous records of everything being donated.

my nieghbor got his benifits cut because he was mowing lawns for free for elderly people in our neighborhood! SSA said he COULD be earning money with that skill even though he WASNT. took 9 months to get his checks back. the whole system makes no sense

To follow up on some of the concerns here: There's an important distinction between SSI (which has strict income and resource limits) and DAC benefits (which are Title II benefits based on a parent's work record). DAC benefits have different rules. For DAC benefits, the main concern is whether your son is performing Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) - which in 2025 means earning more than $1,550/month. Since he's not earning income for himself, this shouldn't be an issue. However, I do agree with others that documenting everything and potentially reporting the activity is wise. I've worked with several families in similar situations, and the outcome usually depends on how the activity is structured and documented. The key is showing this is therapeutic/recreational rather than demonstrating capacity for competitive employment.

just wondering has anyone tried that Claimyr service to get through to SSA faster? i keep seeing it mentioned here but never tried it myself

My advice after 15 years dealing with the SSA for my brother's benefits: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING IN WRITING and don't rely on verbal guidance! I can't tell you how many times we were told something was fine over the phone only to have problems later because there was no record of that conversation. Send everything certified mail with return receipt and keep copies of EVERYTHING. And yes - report the activity. Not because you have to, but because it protects you if questions come up later. You can show you were transparent from the beginning.

One more important point: make sure you're clear about which type of benefits your son receives. You mentioned DAC (Disabled Adult Child) benefits from his mother's record, which are Title II benefits (sometimes called SSDI). These are different from SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which has much stricter income and resource limits. For DAC benefits, the primary concern is whether he's engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Since he's not earning income from this activity, it's unlikely to affect his benefits, but as others have mentioned, documenting everything and potentially reporting it is a good idea for transparency. I've helped many families navigate these waters, and in your situation, I recommend: 1. Keep detailed records of all sales, expenses, and donations 2. Consider sending a letter to your local SSA office describing the activity 3. Focus on the therapeutic/social aspects of the activity in your documentation 4. Keep the business funds completely separate from personal funds Regarding forming a nonprofit - this adds significant administrative burden without necessarily providing additional protection for his benefits. A simpler approach might be to partner with the existing animal shelter as a program under their nonprofit umbrella.

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my daughter who has autism and receives DAC benefits. She's been making and selling greeting cards at craft fairs, but like your son, all proceeds go to charity (in her case, a local food bank). What I learned from our experience: SSA cares more about the structure and documentation than the actual activity itself. We created a simple written agreement with the food bank showing they receive 100% of proceeds, and we maintain a separate checking account just for this activity. Every penny in gets documented and donated. The key insight our disability attorney shared: frame this as a therapeutic/social activity rather than a business venture in any communications with SSA. Emphasize the social skills development, routine building, and community connection aspects. This helps distinguish it from competitive employment. One practical tip: consider having the animal shelter sell the birdhouses directly rather than your son selling them and donating proceeds. This removes him from the "sales" aspect entirely and makes it clearly volunteer work/donation of goods. Best of luck navigating this - it's wonderful that your son has found something meaningful to do that helps animals!