Man on sofa looking at phone near wheelchair

How to Make Money While on Disability [2024] 

Maddy Scheckel By Maddy Scheckel
June 17, 2024
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According to recent government data, 22.5% of Americans with a disability are employed. No doubt, the work-from-home revolution has helped increase this number. 

But many people with a disability are unable to work full-time in a remote job, in a conventional job, or in an office. 

I’ll list the top strategies that explain how to make money while on disability.

This includes using free get-paid-to (GPT) apps like Freecash and Swagbucks to make money. 

I’ll share some unexpected ways to make money with a disability, too.

How to Make Money While on Disability 

I’d like to make it clear that I’m a personal finance expert, not a legal expert. This is not legal advice. Your legal situation may not permit you to make money in certain ways.

But what I can say is that the following are completely legit methods for how to make money while on disability without getting a job.

And if you find yourself about to earn too much money one month, you can always stop using one of these methods by taking a break.

Play Games Online 

I know this sounds too good to be true, but playing games online is a real way to make money from home, or anywhere you have an internet connection, while on disability.

There are free apps that pay ​​you to try out new games because game developers need more players to get more popular, or they need your feedback to make their games better.

A few of our favorite apps that pay real money to play games are 

The Freecash website offering rewards from $0.50 to $120 for playing games.
Want to know how to make money while on disability? Freecash pays you to try out fun new games on your phone.
Source: Freecash

If this sounds like something you’d like to explore, see our big list of apps that pay cash and learn about the best ways to earn gift cards by playing games.

Take Surveys

There are a number of legit apps that offer another solution for how to make money while on disability: by completing surveys.

Companies value honest feedback from consumers so they can improve their products. These brands pay survey platforms, which, in turn, pay you!

Some of our favorite survey sites and apps are Branded Surveys, MyPoints, and Survey Junkie.

To learn more, see our complete Survey Junkie review and Branded Surveys review, along with our favorite Survey Junkie hack ideas.

Watch Videos 

If you or someone you love has a disability and needs money, consider joining free sites that pay you to watch videos.

We like InboxDollars and Swagbucks for this purpose. 

They’re both trusted companies that have been in business for a long time. In fact, InboxDollars has been paying people to complete online activities like watching videos since the year 2000!

Here are more ways to make money watching videos. And check out our full InboxDollars review in “Is Inbox Dollars Legit?” and read about more of the best survey sites like Swagbucks. 

Review Products 

Swagbucks will also reward you with Swagbucks (SBs) to review products. You can turn these SBs into real money or gift cards to popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and more.

When you sign up for Swagbucks, you’ll fill out your profile and Swagbucks takes it from there.

They’ll match you with companies who need your feedback after you try out a product they mail to you.

A 5-star Trustpilot Swagbucks review from a user who has made over $150 playing games and taking surveys.
Samantha shares that she’s made $150 with Swagbucks so far. You can review products, play games, and more to make money online.
Source: Trustpilot

If testing out products sounds fun to you, see our article about Nike product testing and Adidas product testing.

Earn Cash Back 

An easy way to make money while on disability is to sign up for free apps that give you cash back.

It’s simple. Apps like Rakuten and Upside reward you for using them to shop online, fill up your gas tank, eat at restaurants, and more.

I use both Rakuten and Upside all the time! 

Available brands on the Rakuten shopping portal where user can earn 10% to 20% cash back on their purchases.
Rakuten gives you cash back for shopping online at popular stores like Temu, Skechers, and PetSmart, as well as for dining at restaurants.
Source: Rakuten

Learn more about how to make money while on disability with these apps in our Rakuten review and Upside app review.

Open a High Yield Savings Account (HYSA)

Wondering how to make money while on disability? Make your money work for you!

You can earn interest on your savings. You don’t need to leave the house or even make a phone call. You can open a CIT Bank savings account online and start earning interest right away.

This is basically free money. It’s also easy to withdraw your money or move it back to your main checking account. 

With CIT Bank, your money is FDIC-insured. CIT Bank is part of First Citizens Bank, which has been in business for 125 years and holds over $200 billion in assets. 

See our in-depth CIT Bank review. You may also want to learn more about a 7% interest savings account.

Earn a Bank Bonus 

Various banks offer you a bonus when you open up a new account with them.

In particular, we like a financial technology company called Upgrade. 

Upgrade partners with an FDIC bank to provide you with the best of both worlds — a big bank bonus with the security of FDIC insurance plus the benefits of being online.

And Upgrade isn’t your only option. We have a list of banks with immediate sign up bonus as well as a list of top bank promotions.

Go For a Walk 

If your disability doesn’t prevent you from walking, you can try the HealthyWage app. With HealthyWage, you can take weight loss challenges for money.

A post in the HealthyWage app's community from a user excited to be about to begin their weightloss journey.
The HealthWage app connects you to online communities to help keep you motivated to lose weight, with money as an incentive.
Source: Google Play Store

Here are more of the best apps that pay you to walk. And we answer the question, “Is Cashwalk legit?” 

Commonly Asked Questions About How to Make Money While on Disability 

How Can a Disabled Person Make Money?

A disabled person can make money online in these easy ways:

How Can a Disabled Person Make Money From Home?

A disabled person can make money from home by:

Under The Table Jobs For Disabled?

These aren’t really under the table jobs, because you won’t have a boss! Complete these on your own schedule:

How Much Money Can I Earn Without Affecting My Disability Benefits?

According to USA.gov, As of 2024, you may stop receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if you earn over $1,550 dollars a month. But your eligibility to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) while working will depend on which state you live in.

Also, if you get SSI and/or SSDI, your benefit amount may be reduced depending on how much money you earn from your job.

I’m not an attorney, and this is not tax advice. Seek a specialist for more information.

None of the methods in this article on how to make money while on disability are likely to earn you more than $1,000 a month. But you can always track your earnings and stop using these platforms if you start making too much money in any particular month.

Can You Have Passive Income While on Disability?

According to attorneys at law Terry Katz and Associates, passive income should not impact your eligibility for monthly benefits. That’s because passive income isn’t related to working or your ability to work. However, I’m not an attorney and this is not legal advice. Speak to a specialist for more information. 

You can earn passive income as a person with a disability by signing up for a high-yield savings account with CIT Bank that pays you interest. You can also earn cash back when you do your regular shopping with free apps like Rakuten (read Is Rakuten Insight Legit?) and Upside (read our Upside app review).

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