[TDIU and working, taxes.]

5 hours ago, broncovet said:

You came to the right place.  

Short version:  

You have nothing to worry about.  

Longer version:

   Check the regulations on TDIU.  First, the defination.  TDIU is "unable to maintain SGE (Substantial Gainful Employment) due to SC conditions."  

Read the word "substantial" gainful employement, and THAT is defined as well.  SGE is defined as earning less than the MAPP (poverty level):

 https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disability-tips/get-social-security-statement

    I have answered dozens of questions on the issue, and earning 600 a year is not "sge".  Americans couldnt live on 600 a month, let alone 600 per year.  

Lastly, you can check on what VA calls "marginal employment", here, as well as other tdiu issues here:

 https://www.hillandponton.com/tdiu-the-vas-position-on-employment-issues/

   I have supplied my sources of information to set your mind at ease, that I didnt just "make stuff up".  I encourage you to check the sources and read them to set your mind at ease.  

 

 

I apprechiate your input, so thank you for that. Ive got a couple more questions now. Seeing that this is my income source for my family , I feel an urge to understand how things work. 

My questions are, when the VA is aware of income through the Irs tax filing do they automatically send out an inquiry to the Veteran or is it a case by case basis. Will they see my 600 and follow up? Or will they  not act based on the small amount under the poverty threshold? Also this is income only reported by myself on taxes, no w2 or 1099 this was a cash deal. 

Thanks again.

 

[TDIU and working, taxes.]

In 2017 I received my award letter and it stated that I was tdiu permanent and total with no future exams. Since then I have never received anything in the mail from the VA asking whether I'm working or not or earned any income.

I got curious about this and read up on a few posts that they now verify if there's any earned income through Social Security and IRS.

 

My question is in 2019 I earned $600 helping an elderly family friend around her house. I cleaned her yard, cut the grass and things of that nature on the days I felt well enough to do it. It was an hour here and there. The total for the year was 600. Well now fast-forward to 2020 it's tax time and since I earned $600 I filed that on my taxes under household worker. I did not realize that I was not required to file taxes under a certain amount of earned income.

 

Nevertheless the taxes have been filed and now I'm worried that this could compromise my tdiu permanent and total status even though I have read up on marginal and or gainful employment criteria and the 600 earned is way under the poverty threshold. 

 

I guess most of the worry comes from the conflicting information I read on posts some say that if you make under a certain amount of money under the poverty threshold and are not involved in gainful employment or your employment is marginal then you really don't don't have anything to worry about.

On the flip side I've read plenty of post where people say if you work and income is reported you'll be electronically flagged and lose your tdiu so I really need some help and guidance please on how this could affect me and what I should do if I receive something in the mail from the VA.