Will Volunteering Affect Your Disability Case?
If you are applying for or receiving Social Security disability benefits, you may already be aware that if you earn over a certain amount of money working full or part time or even from the “gig economy,” you may be disqualified from receiving benefits. In the vocabulary of the SSA, this is known as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The SGA for non-blind individuals in 2026 is $1,690 per month. If you are earning more than the SGA amount, you will most likely be denied disability benefits or if you are already receiving benefits they may be suspended.
But what about non-paid, volunteer work? If you are engaged in high-intensity volunteer activities or if you volunteer for many hours a week, the SSA may consider this as proof that your disability is not a barrier which keeps you from working at a paying job. For example, volunteering 30 to 40 hours a week can lead to the assumption that you are capable of full-time employment. Or, in another example, the SSA may order a review of your case if you have been awarded benefits for mental limitations, but you are managing complex tasks as a volunteer.
To keep from derailing your disability case or to protect the benefits you have been awarded, choose your volunteer tasks and hours carefully. Take on tasks that align with your medical restrictions. For example, if your disability prevents you from standing for long periods of time, seek volunteer work like answering the phone or performing clerical tasks. Keep detailed records of your work and notate any accommodations the volunteer organization makes for your disability.
In addition to what your volunteer work may tell Social Security about your ability to function, SSA will also examine the financial value of your work, even if it’s unpaid. If SSA believes that your volunteer work has a value that is at or more than the level of SGA work, they may deny or cut off your benefits. There may be even greater scrutiny if you’re volunteering for a family-owned business, because SSA may conclude that your lack of pay is only so that you can keep receiving disability benefits.
In general, if you are volunteering for a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit group in a way that is consistent with your disabilities and that does not indicate to the Social Security Administration that you can work, then volunteering may not prevent you from qualifying for Social Security disability benefits.
If you have a disabling injury or illness and your condition has made it impossible for you to hold a job, contact us at Nash Disability Law for a free evaluation of your situation. We can help you navigate through the complex SSA disability claims process and guide you on the best path forward. We only get paid when you win your case.
