Will working part-time (10hrs/week) affect my Social Security DAC benefits?

You're asking really smart questions about planning for your future. DAC benefits (also called CDB - Childhood Disability Benefits) do have special work rules. The key thing you need to understand is the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which is $1,550/month in 2025 for non-blind individuals. As long as you earn less than that, your DAC benefits should continue. Before starting work, I strongly recommend: 1. Contact your local SSA office to request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) - this shows exactly what benefits you receive 2. Connect with a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program in your area - they provide free benefits counseling 3. Look into the Ticket to Work program which can help with job placement As for building work credits, even part-time work can help you earn quarters of coverage. In 2025, you earn one credit for each $1,810 in earnings, up to 4 credits per year.

My brother is on DAC benefits too and started working about 15 hrs a week at a local library last year. He's doing fine with his benefits still coming. Just make sure u report your income every month to SSA and keep it under that SGA amount the other person mentioned. Good luck!!

I want to add some important info to what's already been shared. When you're on DAC benefits, you get a 9-month Trial Work Period where you can earn ANY amount without affecting benefits. In 2025, any month you earn over $1,110 counts as a Trial Work month. After using all 9 months (they don't have to be consecutive), you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility for 36 months where benefits continue if you're below SGA. Another thing to consider: if your benefits stop due to work activity, you may qualify for Expedited Reinstatement within 5 years if you need to stop working due to your disability. For looking for jobs, I'd recommend reaching out to your state's Vocational Rehabilitation agency - they specialize in helping people with disabilities find suitable employment and can provide training and accommodations.

To answer your question about WIPA - you can find your local WIPA provider by calling the Ticket to Work helpline at 1-866-968-7842. They'll connect you with a benefits counselor in your area who can give you personalized guidance based on your specific situation. It's completely free, and they're experts at explaining exactly how work will impact your benefits.

This is actually RELEVANT to my situation! When I started working I had same questions. I tried calling social security for weeks and ALWAYS got disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. It was SUPER frustrating!!!! Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in like 20 minutes! They have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - basically they wait on hold FOR YOU and then call you when an agent is on the line. Total lifesaver when you need to ask these specific questions about work limits and reporting!

To clarify the confusion about the Trial Work Period (TWP) - you don't permanently lose benefits after 9 months of earning over $1,110. What happens is: 1. During the 9-month TWP: You keep full benefits regardless of how much you earn 2. After TWP: You enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) 3. During EPE: You get benefits for months you earn under SGA ($1,550) and don't get benefits for months you earn over SGA 4. After EPE: If you're consistently earning over SGA, benefits terminate BUT... 5. For 5 years after termination: You can request Expedited Reinstatement if your condition prevents you from working again The system is complicated but designed to encourage work attempts with safety nets.

Yes, it actually does work! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying for weeks. Got connected to an agent who answered all my questions about reporting work income with my DAC benefits. They explained exactly what forms I needed and how often I needed to report. Saved me so much stress!

my son works 12 hrs at a grocery store. hes on DAC too. he likes the routine and having spending money. we have to fill out a form every month showing his hours. as long as hes under the limit its all good. you should try it!

the forms not bad at all just put the hours and what he earned each week. we just send pay stubs with it. SSA office gave us a stack of the forms to have on hand

I work with a nonprofit that helps place disabled individuals in jobs. Definitely look into your state's Vocational Rehabilitation services as someone mentioned. Also check out the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) website - they have resources on reasonable accommodations for various disabilities. Some good first-job options that often work well for people with limitations: - Library assistant/shelving (quiet environment, flexible pace) - Data entry (can often be part-time or even remote) - Retail greeter (typically has options to sit) - Administrative assistance (structured tasks) - Animal shelter assistant (meaningful work with flexible duties) Most importantly, be upfront about your limitations with potential employers but focus on what you CAN do rather than can't.

My sister lost her DAC benefits because no one explained all this complicated stuff to her!!! She worked at Walmart for 4 months at 15 hours a week and they cut her off completely with no warning!! Now she's fighting to get them back and we're all stressed out. The system is DESIGNED to fail people with disabilities. Be really careful and document EVERYTHING.

Thank you everyone for all this amazing information! I'm feeling much more hopeful about trying to work a little bit. I'm going to: 1. Call the Ticket to Work helpline to get connected with a WIPA counselor 2. Look into my state's Vocational Rehabilitation services 3. Consider jobs at libraries or animal shelters that might accommodate my limitations 4. Make sure I understand the reporting requirements It's such a relief to know I can try working without immediately losing my benefits. I'll be very careful to stay under the limits and keep good records of everything. Thanks again for all your help!

You've got a great plan laid out! One more resource I'd recommend is the ABLE National Resource Center website (ablenrc.org) - if you qualify for an ABLE account, you can save up to $100,000 without affecting your DAC benefits. This could be really helpful for building long-term financial security while working part-time. Also, when you do start working, ask your employer about direct deposit if possible. Having a clear paper trail of your earnings makes the monthly reporting to SSA much smoother. Some employers are also more familiar with accommodating workers with disabilities than others - don't be afraid to ask about their experience during interviews. You're taking all the right steps by getting proper guidance before jumping in. Best of luck with your work journey!

I'm so glad to see this conversation! As someone who's been on DAC benefits for 8 years and recently started working part-time at a local nonprofit, I wanted to share my experience. I was terrified at first too, but it's been really positive. A few things that helped me: - I started with just 6 hours a week to see how I handled it physically and mentally - My employer was very understanding about my need for flexible scheduling - I set up automatic monthly reporting through my SSA online account which makes it super easy - Having that WIPA counselor was invaluable - they walked me through everything step by step The work has actually improved my confidence and given me a sense of purpose beyond just managing my disability. Plus, I'm earning those work credits you mentioned for future security. You're asking all the right questions and taking a smart, cautious approach. The fact that you're planning ahead shows you'll do great with this transition!