Why the Internet Gives Terrible Advice About Making Money on SSDI

The Problem Isn’t You – It’s the Internet

If you’ve spent more than ten minutes searching “how to make money on disability,” you already know what happens next:

You fall into a vortex of YouTube gurus, affiliate bloggers, and Reddit threads repeating the same five ideas that never quite work the way they promise.

Not because you’re doing something wrong.
Not because you “don’t believe in yourself.”
But because most online advice simply isn’t designed for someone living under the rules of SSDI, Medicaid, or income-related reviews.

The internet is built for one audience:
people with no constraints, no reporting requirements, and no consequences if their income fluctuates wildly.

You?

You’re playing an entirely different game.

And most advice doesn’t even realize that game exists.

The Big Disconnect: Normal Advice vs. SSDI Reality

1. Online advice assumes unlimited earning freedom

Most “make money online” strategies assume you can take risks, income spikes don’t matter, and nothing bad happens if your revenue swings up and down.

If you’re on SSDI, those swings can trigger reviews, flag your account, or complicate future benefits—even when you’re still under SGA.

That nuance?
It’s never mentioned in mainstream advice.

2. SSI rules get mixed into SSDI advice and everything becomes a mess

Half the internet genuinely doesn’t know the difference between SSI and SSDI.
So you end up with bad blends like:

• “If you make more than $85, your check gets reduced!” (SSI rule)
• “You can’t save more than $2,000!” (SSI rule)
• “You can only make $1,000 a month!” (made – up rule)

The result:
SSDI earners get scared out of opportunities they actually can pursue.

3. Influencers have no idea how disability reviews work

They don’t understand Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs).
They don’t know about work incentives.
They don’t know what counts as earned income vs. unearned income.
They don’t know how to pace income safely.

They just say,
“Start a channel! Sell on Etsy! Do affiliate marketing!”
And yes—those things can work.
But not at the pace, volume, or risk levels they push on their audiences.

4. “Passive income” advice ignores the cost problem

A huge percentage of online business models require:

• software subscriptions
• advertising
• tools
• inventory
• monthly fees
• trial periods that quietly turn into $29.99 charges

People on SSDI aren’t being dramatic when they say they can’t afford those expenses.
They’re being realistic.

Internet gurus just aren’t talking to them.

Why This Matters

If advice doesn’t fit your situation, you end up with:

• false starts
• wasted money
• anxiety over income limits
• fear that even trying will put your benefits at risk

And eventually?
A quiet belief that online income “just doesn’t work for people like you.”

But the truth is simpler than that:

The advice was never made for you – so of course it didn’t work.

The Real Danger: “Just Try It and See What Happens”

This is the part that makes me want to flip a table.

A lot of the internet’s advice boils down to:

“Just go for it, and deal with problems later!”

That doesn’t work when “problems later” could mean:

• losing your Medicaid
• triggering a medical review
• owing back payments
• getting flagged for inconsistent income
• accidentally hitting SGA without realizing it

For people on SSDI, income isn’t just income.
It’s a system with rules, and the system has teeth.

Pretending those rules don’t exist isn’t inspirational – it’s reckless.

So What Should You Listen To?

Here’s what actually works for SSDI earners:

1. Small, stable income streams

Not wild spikes.
Not “I made $3,000 in one weekend!”
But slow, consistent numbers that you can track, document, and stay in control of.

2. Low – cost, low – risk models

Income sources that don’t require dropping $150/month on software “just to get started.”
Tools that don’t punish you if things take a while.

3. Transparent reporting

Clear ways to log income so you stay safe, confident, and ready for reviews.

4. Skill – based, not hype – based

The kind of work that builds something real instead of chasing trends or gimmicks.

5. Support from people who understand the system

People who know what SGA actually is.
People who know the difference between earned vs unearned income.
People who know how to build income safely, not recklessly.

The Internet Isn’t Going to Fix This – So We Are

This is exactly why the Still Able Project exists:
To give people on SSDI a place where the advice actually fits their reality, their rules, and their long – term goals.

Not hype.
Not hustle culture.
Not “manifest it.”
Actual pathways.
Actual numbers.
Actual safety.

The truth is:
The internet isn’t malicious.
It’s just oblivious.

But you?
You’re not here for oblivious advice.
You’re here to build something stable, honest, and empowering – something that respects the rules without shrinking your potential.

And that starts with tossing out the generic advice the internet keeps recycling.

Quick Note About Benefits

Information on this site is based on publicly available SSA guidelines and is provided for educational purposes only. Your situation, medical history, and work history are unique, and your benefits may be affected differently than someone else’s.

If you want personal guidance about your exact income limits or work incentives, call the SSA Ticket to Work Helpline and ask for the nearest WIPA program (Work Incentives Planning & Assistance) and ask for a benefits counselor:

📞 1-866-968-7842
📞 TTY: 1-866-833-2967

A WIPA counselor can explain your options, look at your specific case, and help you plan safely.