I am physically and mentally handicapped but still desire to work to try and ease my wife's burden of bills always piling up. Can I earn any amount of income and not lose my ssdi of 1398.00 monthly( before deductions).she claims working just 4-6 hrs a week delivering food could cost me my insurance and SSI income.I only wish to earn $400-$500 extra monthly if possible,to keep her from having to get a part time holiday job.

Hi. Your earnings would have to be considered by Social Security to be substantial gainful activity (SGA) to cause your benefits to be suspended of terminated. The current monthly SGA amount for non-blind individuals is $1310, and for blind individuals it is $2190. Therefore, earning $400 or $500 per month would almost certainly have no effect at all on your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits or Medicare coverage. For more specific information, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf.

If you do return to work, though, be sure to notify Social Security and keep a record of your pay slips so that you can prove your monthly earnings. Social Security normally only receives copies of a person's W-2 form, and that only shows your calendar year earnings.

Best, Jerry