What do I need to know about Social Security Benefits and Self Employment?

There are more than 9 million individuals with disabilities receiving either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits on a monthly basis. Benefit recipients comprise 70% of the requests for services processed by The Abilities Fund each month.

If you already serve individuals with disabilities, many of your current clients are likely on these programs and if your organization intends to seek out this market, you will need to be prepared.
 
As a person begins exploring self employment as an option it is essential that we as microenterprise development practitioners remain sensitive to the effects of business income and assets on benefit eligibility.

For comprehensive information on supporting individuals with disabilities through the self employment process the following manual by Patti Lind and Mark Nolte provides significant information:

Further Reading:

• Social Security Administration
• Social Security Administration Information for Self-Employed
• Social Security Administration Office Locator
• Social Security Administration Work Incentives
• Disability Benefits 101
• Virginia Commonwealth University WorkWORLD Program

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