How to Report Income to Social Security (SSI & SSDI)

Avoid overpayments, protect your benefits, and stay compliant

Introduction: Why Reporting Income Matters

If you receive SSI or SSDI, earning money from a job or side hustle can affect your benefits.

💼 Do I have to report my earnings if I work part-time?

📅 How often do I need to report income to SSA?

⚠️ What happens if I forget—or report late?

The short answer:

✔️ Yes, you must report all income to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

✔️ It’s your responsibility—even if the job is short-term, low-paying, or under the table.

⚠️ Failing to report income is one of the top causes of SSA overpayments and benefit loss.

In this post, we’ll cover:

✅ What counts as income for SSI and SSDI

✅ When and how to report your earnings

✅ What to expect after you report

✅ How Purple helps you stay on top of it all

1. What Income Do You Need to Report?

SSA defines income broadly. You must report earned and unearned income that could affect your eligibility or payment amount.

✅ Report the following:

💼 Wages from a job (full-time, part-time, temporary, or gig work)
💰 Self-employment or freelance income
💵 Tips or cash payments
📦 Payment in the form of goods or services
💸 Bonuses or commissions
🪙 Unemployment compensation
🧾 Child support, alimony, or gifts (for SSI)

2. Income Rules for SSI vs. SSDI

⚠️ SSI Income Rules (2025):

First $20 of unearned income and $65 of earned income are excluded
After that, SSA deducts $1 from your SSI for every $2 you earn
If your countable income is too high, your SSI payment could drop or stop
You must also stay under $2,000 in resources ($3,000 for couples)

⚠️ SSDI Income Rules (2025):

You can earn up to $1,620/month (non-blind) or $2,700/month (blind) without losing benefits
SSA may let you work above those limits for up to 9 months during a Trial Work Period (TWP)
Exceeding limits after TWP ends can cause your SSDI to be suspended or stopped

📌 SSDI is not needs-based, but SSA still tracks your Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine ongoing eligibility.

3. When Do You Need to Report Income?

✅ SSI recipients:

Report no later than the 6th day of the following month
Example: Income earned in March must be reported by April 6th

✅ SSDI recipients:

Report as soon as you start or stop work, and any time your wages change significantly
No monthly deadline, but early reporting avoids overpayments

💡 Late reporting can cause you to be overpaid, which SSA may claw back.

4. How to Report Your Income to SSA

You have several options for reporting earnings:

📱 1. Mobile App (SSI Only)

Use the SSI Mobile Wage Reporting App (iOS/Android)

Report wages each month by taking a photo of your pay stub
Fast, simple, and confirms your report instantly

🌐 2. My Social Security Account

Some SSDI recipients can report earnings online
Also useful for reviewing benefits, payments, and notices

☎️ 3. Phone

Call your local SSA office or the national line: 1-800-772-1213

Best for reporting one-time changes, new jobs, or issues with self-employment

✉️ 4. Mail or In-Person

Submit your pay stubs by mail or drop them off at your local SSA office

Include your name, SSN, and contact info
Ask for a receipt or confirmation whenever possible

5. What Happens After You Report

SSA may:

Adjust your monthly payment (for SSI)
Contact you for more info or verification
Review your work history for SSDI if you’ve exceeded limits
Require a Work Activity Report (Form SSA-821) if your work situation is unclear

📌 Keep copies of pay stubs and receipts in case SSA questions your report.

6. How Purple Helps You Report Income and Avoid Overpayments

💜 Tag Your Deposits – Identify earned income vs. SSA payments

💜 Track Monthly Totals – Know when you’re near the SSI or SSDI thresholds

💜 Get Balance Alerts – Avoid going over SSI’s $2,000 resource limit

💜 Upload Pay Stubs – Store documents for SSA reviews or redeterminations

💜 Ask the Companion AI – “How much can I earn on SSDI?” or “Will this paycheck affect my SSI?”

📌 With Purple, you stay in control—no surprises, no paperwork panic.

7. FAQs About Reporting Income to SSA

⚠️ What if I forget to report?

You may be overpaid, and SSA can request repayment. Report as soon as you remember.

⚠️ Does SSA monitor my bank account?

SSA has the right to review your bank account if you receive SSI. They may also match wage records with IRS or employer data.

⚠️ What if I get paid in cash?

You must still report it—cash income counts just like any other income.

⚠️ Can I report income to SSA through Purple?

You’ll still need to report through SSA channels, but Purple helps you track and tag earnings, so reporting is faster and more accurate.

8. Conclusion: Don’t Let Income Jeopardize Your Benefits

✅ Always report your income to SSA—early and accurately

✅ Know your limits: $1,620/month for SSDI, and strict deductions for SSI

✅ Use SSA tools—or the phone or mail—to report monthly earnings

✅ Let Purple help you track everything in one place, and stay compliant with confidence

💜 Join Purple today to avoid overpayments, track earnings, and stay protected while working on benefits.