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Work-Related SSI and SSDI Rules for People Who Are Blind

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from Social Security Administration. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

Special Rules for People Who Are Blind

What Do You Mean By Special Rules For People Who Are Blind?

Work incentives are rules that help you return to work or work for the first time. Congress included language in the law specifically to make it easier for people who are blind to go to work. These special rules apply only to people who are blind.

How Do We Define Blindness?

Blindness is central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or a limitation in the field of vision in the better eye so that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20 degrees or less.

Do The Same Conditions Of Blindness Apply In SSDI And SSI?

No. Under SSDI, this condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months. There is no duration requirement for blindness under SSI.

What Work Incentives Are Available Only To People Who Are Blind?

Blind work expenses are available if you receive SSI based on blindness.

How We Apply Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Under SSDI To People Who Are Blind

How Do We Determine SGA For Blind SSDI Beneficiaries Who Work?

The SGA guidelines for workers who are blind, which are higher than those for non-blind workers with other disabilities, are $2,830 per month in 2026. We generally change the SGA level every year to reflect changes in general wage levels.

How Do We Apply SGA To Blind SSDI Beneficiaries Who Are Self-Employed?

We decide if work activity is SGA for self-employed people who are blind based solely on their earnings. We do not look at time spent in the business or services rendered as we do for non-blind self-employed people.

How Do We Determine SGA For SSDI Beneficiaries Who Are Blind And Age 55 Or Older?

Special rules apply after your 55th birthday. If your earnings demonstrate SGA but your work requires a lower level of skill and ability than the work you did before age 55 or when you became blind, whichever is later, we will suspend, but not terminate, your benefits. Your eligibility for SSDI benefits continues indefinitely, and we pay your benefits for any month earnings fall below SGA.

Does SGA Apply To People Who Are Blind Under SSI?

No. If you meet the medical definition of blindness, we do not use SGA as a factor to determine your SSI eligibility. Your SSI eligibility continues until you medically recover, or your eligibility ends because of a non- disability-related reason.

Blind Work Expenses (BWE) (SSI Eligible)

How Do BWE Help You?

We do not count any earned income that you use to meet expenses necessary to earn that income when we decide if you are eligible for SSI and calculate your payment amount. To qualify you must be eligible for SSI based on blindness.

How Is BWE Different From Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)?

The BWE items do not have to be related to your blindness. When we calculate your SSI payment amount, we treat BWE items differently than IRWE. We do it this way because it always results in a higher SSI payment amount for you.

Examples Of BWE

  • Service animal expenses.
  • Transportation to and from work.
  • Federal, state, and local income taxes.
  • Social Security taxes.
  • Attendant care services.
  • Visual and sensory aids.
  • Translation of materials into Braille.
  • Professional association fees.
  • Union dues.

Comparison Of Monthly SSI Payment With BWE Versus IRWE

The tables below shows how your monthly payment would be affected by BWE versus IRWE.

With $40 BWE

  • $ 361 Earned Income -20 General income exclusion
  • $ 341
  • -65 Earned income exclusion
  • $ 276
  • -138 ½ remaining earnings
  • $ 138
  • -40 Blind Work Expenses
  • $ 98 Countable Income
  • $ 967 2025 Federal Benefit Rate - 98 Total countable income
  • $869 SSI Payment

With $40 IRWE

  • $ 361 Earned Income -20 General income exclusion
  • $ 341
  • -65 Earned income exclusion
  • $ 276
  • -40 Impairment Related Work Expenses
  • $ 236
  • -118 ½ remaining earnings
  • $ 118 Countable Income
  • $ 967 2025 Federal Benefit Rate - 118 Total countable income
  • $849 SSI Payment

Accommodations For People Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired

We make all our publications and notices available in multiple formats, including braille, audio CD, and enlarged print. Also, most of our publications are available in audio format on our website at www.ssa.gov/pubs.

To select or change the way you wish to receive information from Social Security, go to our secure internet application, my Social Security, or call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can also contact your local Social Security office to request an accommodation.

For more information about accommodations for people who are blind or visually impaired, refer to If You’re Blind or Have Low Vision - How We Can Help (Publication No. EN-05-10052).

Spotlight On Special SSI Rule For Blind People Who Work

What Is The Special SSI Rule?

There is a special rule to help people who work and receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on blindness. This rule allows a blind person to exclude from earned income all expenses that enable the person to work. The expense does not need to be related to the blindness.

What Are Some Examples Of Expenses That Can Qualify Under The Rule?

Expenses that can qualify include:

  • a service animal, including the cost of food and upkeep;
  • transportation to and from work;
  • licenses, fees, or taxes;
  • attendant care services;
  • meals eaten during work hours;
  • medical and non-medical equipment or supplies; and
  • other work–related equipment or services.

Example:

Ray Barnett receives SSI because of blindness. Ray works and earns $805 per month, which is the only earned income received.  He has the following work expenses:

    Employer withholdings of $250 per month for Federal and State income taxes and Social Security (FICA) taxes; and Transportation fees of $100 per month for going to and from work.

Ray uses $350 of his earnings to pay for these work expenses.  Therefore, $350 of his earnings is not counted in determining the amount of the SSI benefit as follows:

  • $805 - $20 (general exclusion) = $785
    $785 - $65 (work exclusion) = $720
    $720/2 = $360
    $360 - $350 (blind work expenses) = $10
    $10 = countable earnings

Are There Any Other Rules That May Help?

A person who is blind may also use other SSI work rules such as Plans to Achieve Self–Support and continued Medicaid coverage while working.


THIS INFORMATION IS GENERAL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 1–800–772–1213 (TTY 1–800–325–0778),
VISIT OUR WEBSITE (www.ssa.gov) ON THE INTERNET,
OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE.


Sources and publication details

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

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