Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are both government assistance programs that seek to help you maintain your quality of life through monthly benefit payments. However, these two programs vary greatly when it comes to determining how profitable activity affects your eligibility for each program. 
Key Terms:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
A government program that provides disability benefits to individuals who have accumulated the necessary work credits through his/her employment and need financial assistance due to his/her long-term disability.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
A government program that provides supplemental income to individuals with limited income who are disabled, blind, elderly, or otherwise unable to work, regardless of their work history.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):
Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA, refers to the maximum monthly income an individual can earn outside of their disability payments without losing access to their existing SSDI or SSI benefits. It is crucial to know the SGA limits as earning above the SGA limit can result in the loss of your Social Security disability benefits.
Means-tested:
Usually in reference to eligibility for government assistance programs; means-tested translates to your current financial situation, specifically your assets and income.
How Selling Your Home Can Affect Your SSDI Benefit Payments
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) uses earned income and Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for determining your eligibility. SSDI is not means-tested. Therefore, your income and assets are only counted if you are actively working or participating in generating these forms of income.
In short, the profits received from selling your home should not disqualify you or put you in jeopardy of losing your SSDI payment benefits.
How Selling Your Home Can Affect Your SSI Benefit Payments
In this matter, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the polar opposite of SSDI. SSI is a means-tested government assistance program. Therefore, your current financial situation, including earned income, passive income, rental income, investment dividends, interest, royalties, and capital gains from selling your home, will determine your eligibility for SSI.
In short, the profits from selling your home can be enough to disqualify you from receiving your SSI benefits.
However, if the home you are selling is your primary residence, you will have 90 days to use the funds to purchase a new primary residence, which can keep the funds as a non-countable asset.
If the profit from selling your primary residence and using the proceeds to purchase a new one still leaves a residual profit exceeding $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple, you may risk losing your SSI benefit payments.
It Is Critical To Get Accurate Information In Order To Understand How The Selling Of Your Home Can Affect Your SSD Benefit Payments
- Social Security Administration (SSA): The best, free resource you can use to determine your eligibility for SSDI or SSI if you are selling your home and are concerned about how the sale’s profits may affect you. You can use ssa.gov or their toll-free number 1-800-772-1213.
- Social Security Disability Attorney: A bar-licensed legal professional can help you determine if the profits from selling your home will affect your Social Security disability benefit payments.
- Financial Advisor or Certified Public Accountant: While these two resources will most likely have ample experience dealing with this situation, the first two options above should be explored before using this avenue.