I currently receive SSDI. I want to start an online business with a store selling items that the customer orders and pays me for. I then order and pay for the items from a vender that ships to my customer. The difference in what the customer pays and what I pay the vender is what my income would be, although much of it at first would be put into marketing to get customers to my online store to make purchases. How would this affect my recieving SSDI?

Hi. The answer to your question largely depends on whether or not this would be your first work attempt since qualifying for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, and how much of a profit you make. If this is your first work attempt since going on SSDI, you'd have a 9 month trial work period (TWP) during which you can work and earn an unlimited amount without affecting your benefits. But, once your TWP is completed, your earnings would need to be below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level or else your SSDI benefits could be suspended or terminated. In 2022, the monthly SGA level for non-blind individuals is $1350.

Even if your earnings are below $1350 per month, though, Social Security could still stop your SSDI benefits if they believe that your work activity is either a) comparable to that of an unimpaired worker, or b) reasonably worth more than the SGA level (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0410510010). For more information, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf.

Note that since you're receiving SSDI benefits, if you do start working you're required to notify Social Security.

Best, Jerry