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Social Security Disability

November 15, 2025 03:43AM
Hello everyone, I started mystery shopping and I'm on SSDI, when I call SS to tell them I need to report my wages, I tell them I get paid thru PayPal, they don't know or give me any information on how to do that. Is there anyone here that is on SSDI and if so how do they report their wages since we are a 1099
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More About Mystery Shopping Taxes
November 15, 2025 05:42AM
Unless you ar receiving over $600 for any given company(ies), you really don't need to worry about it. Ask your questions here and best not to mention it to SS. smiling smiley They don't have a clue.
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November 15, 2025 12:56PM
You have to make sure you keep very good records. My son is on SSDI and is paid through 1099's, you can make up to $1420 or $2700 if you are blind without them taking some of your benefits away. That is after expenses, so you must keep detailed mileage and business expenses to show expenses vs pay. He's worked regularly and with expenses he generally doesn't come close to going over a month, but he does drive a lot which offsets his expenses.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2025 01:09PM by piebaby.
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November 15, 2025 01:10PM
Are you really advocating for breaking the law and hiding income?!?
That's disgusting.





[


quote=ShopperGirly]
Unless you ar receiving over $600 for any given company(ies), you really don't need to worry about it. Ask your questions here and best not to mention it to SS. smiling smiley They don't have a clue.[/quote]
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November 15, 2025 05:10PM
Since I've been on SS, not SSDI, no one has asked me to report any income to SS. I don't know if SSDI is different, because all of my claims have been denied. I file my income taxes, but I don't report anything separately to SS anytime.

I remember being on welfare when my kids were tiny, we had to report any income, even gifts from family, every single month, and if they didn't get their report, you didn't get paid next month. SS is NOT the same.
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November 15, 2025 06:02PM
People misunderstand the $600 number. Companies are required to report all wages to the IRS (which reports out to other agencies like SS and VA). If it goes over $600, they are required to send paperwork to the independent contractor as well. The IRS knows if you did a $2 phone shop and never worked for that MSC again. Hiding income is a bad plan for anyone, but it is a truly terrible idea for anyone getting benefits (SSI, SSDI, VA, etc.). If you lie about income, they can (and aggressively will) require you to pay back benefits paid to you and stop future benefits. Never lie about earnings, even a little. What you can do is diligently track your expenses and mileage and take all legitimate deductions.
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November 15, 2025 07:00PM
@viv0412 wrote:

Are you really advocating for breaking the law and hiding income?!?
That's disgusting.





[


quote=ShopperGirly]
Unless you ar receiving over $600 for any given company(ies), you really don't need to worry about it. Ask your questions here and best not to mention it to SS. smiling smiley They don't have a clue.
[/quote]


Not at all. I am just saying most people will never pass the threshold especially now at the end of the year.
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November 15, 2025 07:41PM
The main thing to take away from here is that what you get paid is not all considered income. Your profit is your income, so keep records like pibaby says and deduct your expenses first. What's left is you income.
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November 16, 2025 01:17AM
Keep meticulous records, if you are so inclined, buy a half hour of a tax accountants time in your state. Time well spent.
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November 18, 2025 01:08PM
Under SSDI people can legally work and receive benefits. If a person does receive benefits they can legally earn up to $1420 or $2700 if you are blind without them taking some of your benefits away. Once you reach the threshold for that amount you do not lose your benefits automatically, you have to be over that limit every single month for 9 months before benefits are cut and even then you still qualify for Medicare for several years.
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November 18, 2025 02:14PM
Googled. Should the SSA determine wages exceeded the allowance, you could end up having your check reduced for quite some time.

Self-Employment Tax: As a 1099 worker, you are responsible for paying the full self-employment tax (both the employee and employer portions) to the IRS.
Income Tax: Your SSDI benefits may become taxable if your total "combined income" (adjusted gross income plus non-taxable interest plus one-half of your Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds based on your filing status

Quarterly Estimated Taxes: You may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS to avoid penalties at the end of the year.

For more information, you can review SSA publications like "Working While Disabled: How We Can Help" available on the official SSA website or by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.

Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994. I am an undercover connoisseur of customer service, a master of disguise in the aisles, and a sworn enemy of subpar experiences. I blend in, observe, and report—because excellence should never be a mystery.
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