If a person is receiving SSI or SSDI and then decides to go to work, how will pay or wages affect the benefit amount?
To determine what is countable income for SSI purposes when someone is working but has no income other than SSI and wages, subtract $85 ($20 general income exclusion + $65 earned income exclusion) from monthly gross wages and divide by 2. Subtracting the resulting countable income from the current Federal Benefit Rate (highest possible SSI amount) equals the new SSI amount. So, FBR – [(wages – $85) / 2] = SSI amount. Example: if the FBR is $674 and gross wages are $1003, then $674 – [($1003 – $85) / 2] = $215 SSI amount. If the person is receiving SSDI only, and is working, there is no SSDI benefit reduction during the nine month trial period and three month grace period. If the person has earnings at or above the substantial gainful activity level (SGA) in any month in the following 36 month period, extended period of eligibility (EPE) that person will not be eligible for the SSDI benefit for that month. At the end of the EPE if the person’s earnings are at or above SGA the SSDI benef
