14 Best Ways to Earn Cash While Waiting for Disability Benefits

After you apply for Social Security disability benefits, you can expect to wait at least three to five months for a decision.

And, that’s only if the doctors are quick to send in the necessary information for the office to make a decision.

After that, a person still may need to wait some time to start receiving benefits.

As if having a disability wasn’t stressful enough, the length of time it takes to wait for a decision can cause further stress.

Disabled individuals are limited by how much money they can earn.

If they go over the income limit, they’ll lose their disability benefits, which often help them afford everything from food to rent.

Although disabled persons are allowed to earn some money while collecting benefits, they’re usually limited as to what they can do for work because of their disability.

That’s why I thought it was important to lay out some information for the disabled community who needs some money while they wait for disability benefits to start coming in.

I’m going to talk about several ways that you can earn real cash before your checks start!

Should I Do Under the Table Jobs for Disabled People?

You might get some sketchy advice from people who mean well but don’t know the full impact of what they’re telling you to do.

People may suggest that you work some “under the table” jobs.

Under the table means that these jobs are paid in cash, so they can’t be traced back to you.

It’s basically free money that doesn’t get picked up by the government.

People think that this is the way to go because it’s income that Social Security won’t count against you, making it easier for you to keep your benefits once they start.

However, this type of work is 100% illegal and isn’t something you should consider doing.

If and when the government does find out that you’ve avoided paying taxes on – and failed to report – any of that income, it can land you in some very hot water.

Not only would you be responsible for all those taxes you owed, but you may have to also pay back Social Security for any benefits you got that you weren’t entitled to.

Getting paid under the table to avoid taxes or loss of your benefits can also subject you to jail time.

As you can see, there is no benefit to doing this. It’s risky at best, and completely illegal.

Legitimate Ways to Make Money While You Wait for Disability

I know you don’t want to do anything illegal, so let’s jump into 100% legal ways to earn money while you wait for disability benefits to roll in!

Donate Blood or Plasma

If you don’t have a disability that would disqualify you from donating your blood or plasma, then you can make money weekly by doing so.

Usually, donating blood alone is done through volunteering and you won’t receive a payment.

However, you may find some private companies looking for blood donations in your area that will pay.

The best thing to look for, though, is blood plasma donation centers.

Most of these centers will pay you per donation because it’s a longer, more detailed process to donate plasma than it is blood.

You can expect to make anywhere from $20 to $50 per donation, and some centers will let you donate up to twice per week.

That means that, as long as your health qualifies, you can earn up to $400 per month by donating plasma.

Freelance

Freelancing can offer you a number of ways to make money using skills you have and working from home.

As a freelance writer, I can tell you that freelancing is one of the best ways to have a flexible job and make money how you want to make money.

The best part is that you don’t need any special skills other than what you already have.

Do you know some things about building websites?

Maybe you know all about social media and Facebook marketing?

Perhaps you’re awesome at designing logos?

Or, maybe you know your way around creating spreadsheets in Excel?

Whatever your skill, you can probably make it work through freelancing.

Sign up for a freelancing marketplace, like Upwork or Fiverr.

Upwork lets you search posted jobs for ones that meet your skills, while you can create your own gigs and name your prices on Fiverr.

Read More: 

8 Ways to Get Started as a Freelance Writer

These 28 Freelance Online Writing Jobs are Perfect for Beginners

Get a Home-Based Job

As a person with a disability, you may be able to find some help getting a home-based job that you can handle.

There are fortunately a lot of resources available for people with disabilities to help them lead a sustainable life at home.

Check out Disability.gov, which has resources for people like you who want to find a job.

NTI also focuses on staffing people with disabilities for at-home work.

NTI partners with companies and organizations like the IRS to provide individuals with disabilities home-based work.

You can also use NTI’s Land a Job network to find active job openings all over the United States.

If you have special certifications or degrees, you might even be able to get a remote opportunity through large companies that post jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn.

Read Also: 

Top 22 Work at Home Jobs That Pay 20 Dollars an Hour or More!

22 Legitimate Work from Home Jobs BBB Approved!

Top 51 Work From Home Jobs That Pay You 16 Dollars an Hour!

Rent Your Space

Do you have extra space in your home that you aren’t using?

Rent it out!

There’s no point having an extra bedroom, garage, or even parking space that’s not being used and not making you any money.

This is one of the best ways to make some extra money and you don’t even have to lift a finger other than sign up for the services to connect you with the right people.

A home office that’s in a separate room can be the perfect spot to list on ShareDesk.

You’ll rent your space to professionals who need a spot to conduct meetings and other business matters with their team.

You can rent out a bedroom using Airbnb and make a couple hundred extra dollars every month.

If you have an extra parking space in front of your house or in your parking garage, rent that for extra money with SpotHero.

Or, use Spacer to rent out your unused garage space to someone who needs some room for storage or a car!

Seek Donations

If working is out of the question for you and your disability, then you should look into other forms of free money for disabled people in addition to Social Security.

One way you can do this is by setting up a crowdfunding page on a site like GoFundMe.

If you have a lot of medical expenses or expect to be without income for a few months, you may be able to get donations from family and friends – and even anonymous donors – through your funding page.

You can also check with your local welfare office to find assistance you might qualify for.

Depending on your area, you may qualify for things like:

• Housing assistance
• Money for food
• Cash assistance
• Clothing donations
• Healthcare assistance
• Grants or waivers to pay for medical and living expenses

Depending on your work history, you could also qualify for unemployment benefits.

You can check out the details on USA.gov.

Read Also: Best Way to Make Money with PayPal Donations: An Easy Guide for 2018

Sell Stuff

Hop onto Craigslist or eBay and start selling your stuff you don’t want.

Maybe you have collections that you don’t see a need for anymore.

Or you can sell your old box of DVDs if you currently use streaming channels for movies.

You can even make your own crafty items and start selling them in an Etsy shop.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. Whatever you can think of to sell, do it!

The internet makes it so easy to get started.

Here are several articles we’ve written that can help spark some ideas and get you started:

• Places to sell used items online
• Sell custom t-shirts
• Buy and sell domains
• Sell electronics locally and online
• Sell your CD collection
• Where to sell your wedding dress
• Make and sell candles
• Sell used laptops
• Sell handmade jewelry
• Get cash for used textbooks
• Sell your used clothing
• 30 things to sell to make money
• You can even sell your hair!

Start a Small Side Business

Becoming your own boss is good for so many rreasons

• You determine your schedule
• You can do things you enjoy doing
• You’ll work with people you actually want to work with
• You can do it all from home if you start the right business!

You’re, of course, going to need to think of a business that you can start where you won’t be limited by your disability.

If physical activity is difficult for you, you’ll need to take that into consideration.

Plenty of people make a living working on their computers (like me!), so that could be an option for you if so.

Many businesses take little to no money to start and these are the ones you should focus on.

Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

• Start a blog
• House sit/pet sit/baby sit
• Clean houses or offices
• Editing or writing services
• Repair computers
• Create online courses
• Tutor/teach music
• Write books
• Planning or organization services

Use Rewards Sites

Finally, rewards sites – another simple way to make some money just for doing some online tasks.

I personally love InboxDollars (review) and Swagbucks (review).

These are two sites I’ve used for several years and continue to make money with by taking surveys, reading emails, watching videos, completing offers, and more.

Reward sites like these offer plenty of other ways to earn some extra cash by doing fun things, like playing games, watching TV, and referring your friends.

Although you shouldn’t expect to earn hundreds of dollars every month through these sites, you can earn a little extra in addition to gigs, freelancing, or whatever avenue of income-earning you choose.

Take Online Surveys

Taking online surveys may not equate to a full-time job, but they are a legitimate way to earn some extra money while you wait.

I personally use my favorite survey sites a few times a week for some extra income.

If you were to spend some time taking surveys every day, you could easily earn $100 or more per month just from surveys.

The key is to use only the best survey sites that have been proven to pay members and don’t require a million points to redeem for cash!

Here are a few of the best on the web:

• Swagbucks (review)
• Toluna (review)
• Pinecone Research (review)
• Vindale Research (review)

Try Some Gig Work

Small gigs that you can find locally can also be a great way to earn money.

But, remember that while gigs aren’t technically jobs, you’ll still need to treat your earnings as income and report them to Social Security and on taxes.

Local gigs can give you flexible work using the skills you have to make some money.

Best of all, there are a few apps that help you find people in need of your help so that you don’t have to spend a ton of time seeking them out!

Here are a few of those apps:

• FieldAgent
• Gigwalk
• Easy Shift
• Task Rabbit

Become a Virtual Assistant

One option is to become a virtual assistant (VA). As a VA, you can provide administrative, technical, or creative support to clients remotely.

Tasks can include managing emails, scheduling appointments, social media management, data entry, and more.

Platforms like Upwork and Freelancer offer opportunities to find VA jobs and establish relationships with clients.

Participate in Online Market Research

Participating in online market research studies and focus groups can be a viable way to earn extra income.

Companies and research firms are constantly seeking consumer opinions on products, services, and various topics.

Websites like Survey Junkie and UserTesting connect participants with paid survey opportunities or usability testing projects.

By sharing your feedback and insights, you can earn money from the comfort of your home.

Provide Tutoring or Teaching Services

If you have expertise in a particular subject, consider offering tutoring or teaching services online.

Platforms like VIPKid and Tutor.com provide opportunities for remote teaching positions.

You can teach English as a second language, academic subjects, music lessons, or any other skill you excel in.

These platforms connect you with students globally, allowing you to earn money while sharing your knowledge.

Start an Online Store or Sell on E-commerce Platforms

If you have a knack for crafting, creating unique products, or sourcing items, starting an online store can be a profitable venture.

Platforms like Etsy provide a marketplace for selling handmade or vintage items.

You can also explore selling products on e-commerce platforms like Amazon or eBay.

Setting up an online store allows you to reach a wide customer base and generate income by selling your products.

Conclusion: Ways to Make Money While Waiting for Disability to Start

Are you still waiting for those disability checks?

Don’t worry – you have options available.

No disabled person should have to worry about how to afford food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities.

That’s why I researched to find some legitimate ways for you to earn money despite your disability while you wait for your disability checks to kick in.

Good luck!

Do you have some other suggestions for ways that people with disabilities can earn money?

If so, let us know in a comment below!

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