Question about SSDI and part time work during the pandemic

I got a letter from SSA saying I earned too much last year. But it was all from a remote data entry gig I did from my apartment in Fresno. 6 months, about $1,200 a month. Now they want me to pay back $4,000. The trial work period rules seem clear but the local office says I went over the limit. Anyone else get hit with an overpayment for pandemic side work? How'd you fight it?

3 comments

3 Comments

abby30817d ago

You got a 1099 or a W-2 for that gig? That makes a big difference in how SSA counts it. I went through this in 2020 with some freelance transcription work. They counted my gross earnings even though I had to pay self-employment tax on it. What worked for me was getting a detailed breakdown from SSA showing every month they counted and then submitting proof that in some months I didn't actually work enough hours to count as a trial work month. Check your award letter for the specific month they said you went over - sometimes they mess up by counting the month you got paid instead of when you actually did the work.

the_sean17d ago

Wow, I had a friend in the exact same boat last year.

angela4317d ago

(Laughing at the part about "in the exact same boat") Not quite, actually. Different situations can look similar but details matter a lot.