Out-of-pocket disability-related work costs (equipment, transportation, attendant) reduce SGA-countable earnings.
SSA allows disabled workers to deduct Impairment-Related Work Expenses from countable earnings before applying the SGA test ($1,620/mo 2025). Qualifying: assistive tech, wheelchair-accessible transportation, personal attendant, service animal costs, prescription drugs, medical devices needed to work. A worker earning $2,500/mo with $1,000/mo IRWE has countable earnings of $1,500 — under SGA — so SSDI continues.
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$19K/yr contributions grow tax-free for disability expenses without disqualifying SSI/Medicaid.
Parents/grandparents fund an SNT that pays supplemental needs without counting against SSI/Medicaid limits.
42 U.S.C. §1396p(d)(4)(A) trust shelters a disabled person's OWN money (settlement, inheritance) from Medicaid.
Employed ABLE beneficiaries not participating in an employer retirement plan can add up to $15,650 on top of the $19K limit.
Non-refundable federal credit up to $1,125 for low/moderate-income permanently disabled or 65+ taxpayers.
SSA Plan to Achieve Self-Support lets SSI recipients shelter income/assets used for training, equipment, business.
SSDI/SSI recipients can test working via Trial Work Period + Extended Period of Eligibility — benefits continue if trial fails.
SSI recipients who are blind can deduct ANY work-related expense (not just impairment-related) from countable income.