October 2023 Spotlight on
Social Security Newsletter

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Spotlight on Social Security Newsletter brings you exciting news, work incentives information, success stories, and other valuable information for beneficiaries receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and their families and the professionals serving them.

In this issue:

Upcoming Spotlight on Social Security Webinar – Wage Reporting

DOR offers webinars, provided by industry experts who share valuable information and resources for beneficiaries of SSI and/or SSDI.

Don’t miss out! Go to our Webinar Calendar to register for future webinars!

This month's webinar:

Title: Wage Reporting
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023
Time: 10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. PST
Location: Zoom
Event Information: If you receive SSDI and/or SSI and return to work, it is important to report your wages to Social Security to prevent future overpayments. In this webinar, we will be discussing best practices for wage reporting and the various methods that can be used to report your wages to Social Security.

Presenter: Social Security Administration

Register for the October 19th Webinar on Reporting Wages to Social Security

Submit your question about wage reporting

This month’s featured Spotlight on Social Security: Reporting Wages to Social Security

Why is wage reporting important?

There are a variety of work incentives available to help disability beneficiaries, who go to work, keep more of their cash benefits, and maintain their Medicare and/or Medi-Cal.

When you go to work, you are required to tell Social Security about your employment and how much money you make each month. If you receive SSDI and/or SSI, one of the most important things that you can do to manage your benefits is to make sure you are reporting your wages to Social Security in a timely manner. This will help you to avoid future overpayments.

How do I report my wages?

There are a variety of ways to report your wages to Social Security. You can choose the method that works best for you. The type of benefits you receive will determine the below-listed options you have for reporting your wages.

If you receive SSDI and/or SSI, you can report wages using one of the following options:

If you receive SSI only, you can report wages using one of the following options:

Whichever way you choose to report, it is important to contact Social Security to provide information about your employer as soon as possible and discuss how you plan on reporting your wages each month. Be sure to have copies of your paystubs available so you can report accurate information.

How often do I need to report my wages?

Regardless of whether you receive SSDI or SSI, you will need to report your gross wages to Social Security every month. It is generally advised to report all wages to Social Security by the 6th of each month. For example, if you work in September, you will want to report all wages earned in September by October 6th.

How can I get monthly reminders to report my wages to Social Security?

Regardless of which method you choose to report your wages, you can sign up to receive monthly emails or text messages to remind you when you need to report your wages. Sign up for email and/or text updates here .

What documentation should I keep after I report my wages to Social Security?

When reporting your wages, you should always keep copies of all correspondence you have with Social Security. You should also keep your paystubs and any disability benefit-related information. It is highly recommended to maintain a "benefits binder" to keep all your documentation in a place that will be easy to find when it is needed. Even when you are reporting your wages, Social Security may request additional documents during a Work Activity Review. This is why it’s important to maintain all your documents in a binder.

Common Misconceptions

  1. "Since I pay Social Security taxes on my income, Social Security already knows about my income."

    Although it is true that Social Security can learn about a beneficiary’s work through information sharing agreements with other government agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), it can take a very long time for the information to be shared with Social Security. This increases the likelihood of receiving a future Social Security overpayment.

  2. "I don’t need to report because my Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Independent Living Center advocate, or other support are there to report for me."

    It is never safe to assume that another person will be report your wages consistently and accurately for you every month. Ultimately, it is the your responsibility to report your wages to Social Security.

  3. "I don’t need to report unless I make over the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level."

    No matter how much you earn, you should always report your wages to Social Security.

    Additionally, you must ask Social Security to apply any work incentives you believe you may be eligible because Social Security may not always apply work incentives unless you request them to do so.

Check out these additional resources:

Tip of the Month: DOR Work Incentive Planning Services

Did you know that DOR has provided individualized benefit planning services to over 17,000 clients since 2015? Meeting with a Work Incentives Planner (WIP) is a great way to get the facts about your Social Security Benefits.

Sound Interesting?

Talk to your DOR counselor to see if you are eligible for DOR WIP Services.

Not currently Receiving DOR Services?

If you are ready to start an exciting journey with DOR, please click here to Get Started. You will need to provide additional information about yourself to request services.

Subscribe to the New Spotlight on Social Security Newsletter

Subscribe now to get our Newsletter that focuses on topics related to Social Security Disability Benefits. The newsletter will keep you up to date with the latest developments in Social Security benefits and related programs and provide you with important information that may help you make informed decisions about your future.

If you missed the September newsletter, you can now read it online.