Can Volunteering Affect Your Disability Benefits?

If you receive Social Security disability benefits but still want to volunteer, you are not alone. Volunteering is an activity that brings purpose to many people’s lives. A study by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research reported that people who volunteer are happier, have higher self-esteem, and create stronger social networks than their counterparts who do not volunteer.

But volunteering can also create some challenges when it comes to your benefits. Not only could financial “perks” be considered income, but the actual work you do while you volunteer might convince the Social Security Administration (SSA) you can be gainfully, substantially employed. The help you give might also show the SSA that your medical condition is not so serious that you cannot work.

How can volunteer work affect my ability to receive my Social Security disability benefits?

Social Security can classify your volunteer work as a substantial gainful activity – “ any work that involves significant and productive duties or work that pays more than the monthly income limit set by the SSA.” Note that the agency categorizes work activity as performing tasks for pay or profit, regardless of whether a profit was offered or not. If there is a small stipend or financial bonus, then SSA will look at this, too.

What is the standard dollar amount for the SGA test?

The SGA standard for non-blind disabled SSDI and SSI recipients for 2022 will be $1,350 a month, and the standard for blind SSDI recipients will be $2,260 a month. However, Social Security does not only consider the lower earnings of an activity when determining whether it is substantial gainful activity.

The agency can also consider the circumstances in which the recipient performed the work. Some volunteer activities can be considered as substantial gainful activity if the volunteer work is work that a recipient or any other person would regularly be paid for. For example, a recipient who “volunteers” as a receptionist at an insurance agency and performs secretarial responsibilities may have their benefits affected because they are performing the tasks of someone in a paid position.

What are some ways that I can volunteer without having my benefits affected?

If you want to volunteer or begin to volunteer while receiving disability benefits, there are some things you need to keep in mind. First, you want to ensure that your volunteer work that is not similar to work that you would perform at a job. Choosing to volunteer at an accredited, non-profit organization is a good way to avoid this pitfall. So is volunteering for organizations that are covered by the Domestic Volunteer Services Act of 1973. Some of the organizations that are covered include the Volunteers in Service of America, University Year in Action, Special Volunteer Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Active Corps of Executives, and Foster Grandparent Program.

Another factor recipients must consider is whether the volunteer work is suitable for their disability. For example, if your disability benefits were granted because of spinal stenosis, your volunteerism should not include tasks like lifting heavy objects, or things that require you to stand for a long time. To avoid this issue, recipients can collaborate with a volunteer coordinator to help find a volunteer position that best utilizes the recipient’s skills while taking the recipient’s disability into consideration.

You should also consider the hours you are willing to volunteer. Remember, SSA considers any type of work with significant and productive duties, paying more than the standard monthly limit, as SGA. For example, if you perform volunteer work for 40 hours or more, it can seem as if you are working a regular full-time job. Working those types of hours can cause the agency to reevaluate your case.

If you have been denied Social Security Disability benefits by the SSA, or if your benefits are in the process of being revoked, you have options available to you. For more than 35 years, ill and disabled workers have relied on Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. to help them obtain the benefits they need. To work with a skilled Maryland SSD lawyer, please call us at 410-730-7737 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.