Hi Larry,
My Mother has been receiving SSDI benefits since 2017. She is a member of a social media group that frequently answers questions related to disability. My question is related to investing. She opened an online trading account and bought some stocks and cryptocurrency. The group answered someone else's question about this same scenario and the moderator told them it would be considered "working" if you placed the trades yourself. I have been unable to find anything stating this information online, only that it is okay to invest. Can you advise?

Hi,

No, there is no truth to what you heard. Income from investments is not considered as earned income unless a person is a dealer is stocks and securities. A dealer is defined as someone who buys stocks and bonds in his/her own name, or brokerage name, for resale to others (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0301803500).

Purchasing stocks for personal investment purposes is not considered as a trade or business, and income received on such investments would have no adverse effect on your mother's Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits.

Best, Jerry