The Best Side Hustles for People on Disability That Won’t Affect SSI

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be wondering if you can earn extra income without losing benefits. The good news is that you can work while on disability, as long as you stay within SSA’s income limits and reporting requirements.

This guide will cover the best side hustles for people on disability, how much you can earn without affecting benefits, and how to track your income to avoid overpayments.

How Much Can You Earn on SSI & SSDI?

SSI Income Limits (2025)

SSI is a needs-based program, meaning your benefit amount is reduced if you earn income. However, not all income is counted.

The first $20 of any income per month is not counted.
The first $65 of earned income is excluded.
After that, only half of your remaining earnings count against your SSI payment.

✅ Example: If you earn $500/month, your countable income is $207.50, which would reduce your SSI payment by that amount.

📌 Maximum monthly SSI benefit (2025): $967 for individuals

SSDI Income Limits (2025)

SSDI is not needs-based, but there is an income cap called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):

$1,620/month for non-blind individuals
$2,700/month for blind individuals

📌 SSDI recipients can also use the Trial Work Period (TWP) to test working for up to 9 months while keeping full benefits.

Best Side Hustles for People on Disability

These low-impact, flexible jobs allow you to earn extra income while staying within SSA limits.

1. Freelance Writing or Editing ✍️

Earning Potential: $50–$500 per article
Why It Works: Flexible hours, work from home
Where to Start: Upwork, Fiverr, ProBlogger

2. Online Surveys & User Testing 🖥️

Earning Potential: $5–$20 per hour
Why It Works: Simple, no experience needed
Where to Start: UserTesting, Swagbucks, Respondent.io

3. Selling Handmade Crafts or Printables 🎨

Earning Potential: $100–$2,000 per month (varies)
Why It Works: Passive income potential, creative outlet
Where to Start: Etsy, Redbubble, Society6

4. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking 🐶

Earning Potential: $15–$50 per visit
Why It Works: Flexible schedule, no office work
Where to Start: Rover, Wag!, local Facebook groups

5. Remote Customer Service ☎️

Earning Potential: $15–$25 per hour
Why It Works: Many companies offer part-time options
Where to Start: Amazon, LiveOps, Working Solutions

6. Selling on eBay or Facebook Marketplace 🛍️

Earning Potential: $100–$1,000+ per month
Why It Works: Earn money from home selling used items
Where to Start: eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace

7. Virtual Assistant (VA) 📅

Earning Potential: $15–$40 per hour
Why It Works: Work remotely, assist businesses with admin tasks
Where to Start: Upwork, Belay, Time Etc.

8. Tutoring or Teaching Online 📚

Earning Potential: $20–$50 per hour
Why It Works: Choose your hours, teach subjects you love
Where to Start: VIPKid, Wyzant, Cambly

9. Transcription or Captioning Work 🎧

Earning Potential: $10–$30 per hour
Why It Works: No phone calls, work at your own pace
Where to Start: Rev, TranscribeMe, GoTranscript

10. Blogging or YouTube Content Creation 🎥

Earning Potential: $50–$5,000 per month (long-term)
Why It Works: Passive income, share expertise
Where to Start: YouTube, Medium, personal blog

How to Track Your Income to Stay Within SSA Limits

If you’re working while on SSI or SSDI, tracking your earnings is crucial to avoid overpayments.

Use Purple to track monthly earnings and spending.
Report earnings to SSA each month (SSI recipients).
Monitor your SGA limit (SSDI recipients) to ensure compliance.

Start Earning While Protecting Your Benefits

Earning extra income while on disability is possible with the right planning. By choosing flexible, low-impact side hustles and tracking income carefully, you can supplement your benefits without risking your financial security.

💜 Need help managing your income while on disability? Get started with Purple today to track earnings, avoid overpayments, and maximize your benefits!