Working from home is a great way for disabled individuals to earn income while still being able to take care of themselves.
There are a number of work-from-home jobs for the disabled that can be both rewarding and lucrative. If you are on disability and you receive benefits, there are still some important points to keep in mind, but even disabled individuals on disability can still make a decent income and receive the benefits they need.
In this article we are going to break down all your questions regarding working from home as a disabled person.
Can I work from home if I’m on disability?
Yes, it’s possible for individuals on disability to work from home and make an income beyond their normal disability benefits that they receive. There are some important rules and regulations to be aware of, however, to ensure that you maintain your disability status so that you can continue to receive the coverage and necessary support even while making extra income.
Here are some of the things to consider if you’re thinking about working from home while on disability:
● There is an income limit – If you’re on disability, there is a maximum income limit that you can earn before some of your benefits start to go away. In the next section we look at the specifics of the income limits depending on the benefits you receive.
● There are ways to become financially independent – The Ticket to Work program is designed specifically to help people currently on disability start working and eventually become financially independent without risking their Social Security benefits while they’re working toward this independence. There are a few other similar programs as well for interested individuals.
● You have three options for working at home – The first option is to earn less than the income limit set forth by your particular benefits plan. The second option is to develop an understanding of the trial work period and take advantage of it. The third option is to enroll in the Ticket to Work program (or another similar program).
● The SSA can restart your benefits within 5 years – If you stop receiving benefits because you’re able to make more than the income limit for your benefits package, you will have the option to restart your benefits from SSA within 5 years. Many people have to stop working again due to their disability, so even if you have success working from home there’s still a reliable fallback should something happen and you need to receive the SSA benefits again right away.
Can disabled people work from home while receiving SSDI or SSI disability benefits from Social Security?
Disabled people can work from home and also continue receiving SSDI and/or SSI disability benefits from Social Security, but there are some very specific rules to follow if you want to continue receiving these benefits while also earning an independent income.
The first thing to be aware of is that there’s an income limit. What this means is that if you earn a certain amount of money each month for a certain period of time, your SSDI/SSI benefits will be cut off and you will no longer receive them. But, there are some loopholes and other details to be aware of. If you are disabled and want to work from home, here are some things you need to know:
● SSI disability benefits have income limits – In 2019, the first $85 of income you make isn’t subject to scrutiny. After that, approximately 50% of the amount you make will be deducted from your disability benefits. For example, if you make $1200/month, $557.50 will be deducted from your benefits ((1200 – 85)/2)). In 2017 the amount paid in benefits was approximately $735/month, meaning that a disabled individual could make up to $1500/month before their benefits would “disappear”.
● The trial work period – For people with disabilities who are working from home, it’s possible to take part in a trial work period to make a higher income without compromising your SSI disability benefits. This trial work period is in effect for a non-consecutive period of 9 months, during which time the disabled individual can earn any amount more than the amount specified as Substantial Gainful Activity. In order for a month to count toward the trial work period the person must make above $840 during the month.
● Working while applying for disability benefits – Because SSDI and SSI benefits are often given out to individuals who suffer from disabilities that hinder any kind of work activity at all, it’s more difficult to submit an application for and successfully obtain disability benefits if you have a disability and are currently working and have substantial income. If this is your situation, be sure to discuss the details of your application, disability, and work situation with a disability advocate. This way you can be sure to receive the best advice and final outcome possible.
What at home jobs are good for disabled people?
There are many different jobs available for disabled individuals who want to work from home. These are just a few of the best work from home jobs that are easily accessible and well suited to many disabled individuals.
Freelance Writer
If you have talent or interest in writing, then a freelance writing job may be right for you! Even if you have trouble moving around the house it’s still possible to easily set up a computer at a desk and get started writing. While writing isn’t for everyone, those who have a propensity for this type of work may be hired to write anything from informational texts and instruction manuals to romance novels and historical fiction and more. Upwork and Problogger are both excellent sites to use to get started as a freelance writer.
Data Entry Agent
Data entry is almost always needed so it’s a work-from-home good job to pursue if you want a straightforward, easy to start at home job. Some forms of data entry are more specialized and may even require a certification, so if you have an area of expertise or are qualified to do more complex data entry, make sure to market yourself as a specialist. There are plenty of reasonably well paying data entry jobs available online or that can be done from home. CapitalTyping is one of many companies that hires data entry agents to work from home.
Customer Service Representative
If you’re a so-called “people person”, working as a customer service representative could be a good fit for you. Customer service representatives are also in high demand, so if you can provide a high quality of service you’re sure to be able to get a job. To be a customer service representative you may need some training from the company you’re working for, and you’ll also need a good internet/phone connection and a calm, helpful manner. Accolade Support offers one potential outlet for becoming a work-from-home customer service representative.
Translator
If you can read, or write in two or more languages, you could be eligible to become a certified, work-from-home translator. Translation can be a rewarding and interesting job to pursue and it can be extremely helpful to those in need of translation services. Similarly to other jobs on this list, if you have an area of expertise or a specialty in addition to being able to translate from one language to another, you can get specialized jobs (for example, medical or legal translation may become an option for you). Stepes and Upwork are both resources for finding online, work-from-home translation jobs.
Online Tutor
Becoming an online tutor often doesn’t have high education or training requirements, but it can be extremely fulfilling. If you have a particularly well-rounded understanding of a school subject, sign up as a tutor online to help students learn that subject. Depending on where you sign up there may or may not be certain education requirements. If you’re a professor or school teacher, you may be eligible to sign up for a wider array of online tutoring positions than other people. There are many websites where you can get online tutoring work, like Tutor.com and Skooli.
Proofreader/Editor
Do you have an eye for detail and a deep understanding of grammar? If so, then proofreading or editing could be an excellent work-from-home job for you! There’s a huge amount of written material on the web, and more is published daily. Reliable, knowledgeable proofreaders and editors are essential for developing good internet content, so your ability to look at the details and fine tune the grammar of a document are essential to many online businesses in particular. There are an abundance of proofreading and editing jobs on Upwork, but you can also look at other companies like Proofreading Services to get work in other places.
Online Business/Marketplace
If you’re an artist of some kind, you may be able to sell your goods online on an online marketplace like Amazon or Etsy. Whether you design custom canvas art pieces or craft homemade kombucha (or do something else!), there may be a chance for you to sell your products online. It’s also possible to sell things online such as old magazines, vintage dolls, or clothing that’s in good condition.
Independent Consulting
If you have an area of specialty in marketing, business, finance, project management, or a similar area of expertise, you can offer services online as an independent consultant. As an independent consultant, companies and individuals will hire you to get your advice and educated opinion on certain topics or actions. You will be giving advice to people working in your field of expertise to help give them the information and resources they need to succeed. If you think you might be interested in doing independent consulting, check out Expert360.
Teach English Online
To teach English online, most companies require their teachers to have a TEFL certification (or equivalent) at an absolute minimum. Some companies may also require a bachelor’s degree or proof of teaching experience. But, there are still some online platforms where you can teach without these requirements if you so choose. Teaching English online can be a fun and interesting endeavor that lets you meet new people and continue your personal learning. There are a lot of companies that offer online English teaching positions, but some of the more popular platforms are VIPKid and Cambly.
Computer Programming
People who have an interest in or who know how to do computer programming and/or web development can easily get a well paying job that they can do from home. Good computer programmers are in incredibly high demand, and if you’re one of the people who can code well and provide an excellent final product, you’ll almost always be able to find a job. To do computer programming requires no prior certifications or education requirements. Upwork is one of the best places to find computer programming work online from home.
How do I get a job if I have a disability?
If you have a disability and want to get a work-from-home job, there are two main paths that you can take. The first path is to “go it alone” and pursue online work or jobs on your own using some of the websites listed above. Depending on your specific situation and disability, this can be a perfectly acceptable and rewarding option. But, if you’re new to the online job market or simply want some assistance getting a job, there are many companies that specialize in helping disabled individuals to find online work.
Here are some of the more popular and established online companies that help the disabled find online work:
● abilityJOBS – At abilityJOBS, employers and job seekers connect in a fair and balanced environment. Job seekers post their resumes anonymously and when an employer contacts them, the seeker’s identity and additional information is then passed on to the employer. This way there’s little to no risk of discrimination.
● Disability Job Exchange – This company helps the disabled develop the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in an online job market while also providing an online job forum where employers can post jobs. Both work-from-home and in-person options are available here.
● AbilityLinks – This is a website specifically designed to “link” disabled employees/contractors with employers. This site also offers direct help to disabled employees to assist them in the job hunt and provides opportunities for work-from-home jobs as well as in-person options.
● Hire Disability Solutions (HireDS) – This is a more traditional employment agency that specializes in helping the disabled find work that suits their specific needs and desires. If you’re looking for at-home work in a specific field or with a specific pay rate or time requirement, HireDS can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Conclusion
Working from home while on disability is completely possible. There are a variety of work-from-home jobs that the disabled can do that are interesting. There’s something for everyone! Job agencies that cater specifically to disabled individuals and disability advocates can help you find a type of work situation that will make it possible for you to achieve your career goals and also your financial goals. If you’re in need of extra income in addition to what you receive on disability, work-from-home jobs may be the best way to obtain financial success.