People on SSI or SSDI can often work and keep some benefits and health coverage. Free benefits counseling (WIPA) helps them plan before they start a job.
County next steps
Orange · Durham · Wake · North Carolina · Adults 18+
Orange County
Orange County DSS
113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough; or 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill
919-245-2800- Ask about adult Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services, energy assistance, or another benefit you need.
- Confirm application options, required documents, interview arrangements, and any emergency processing.
- Use ePASS where available, keep confirmation, and agree on the next follow-up. Eligibility is assessed by the program.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Durham County
Durham County DSS
414 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701
919-560-8000- Ask about adult Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services, energy assistance, or another benefit you need.
- Confirm application options, required documents, interview arrangements, and any emergency processing.
- Use ePASS where available, keep confirmation, and agree on the next follow-up. Eligibility is assessed by the program.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Wake County
Wake Health & Human Services — Swinburne
220 Swinburne Street, Raleigh, NC 27610
919-212-7000- Ask about adult Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services, energy assistance, or another benefit you need.
- Confirm application options, required documents, interview arrangements, and any emergency processing.
- Use ePASS where available, keep confirmation, and agree on the next follow-up. Eligibility is assessed by the program.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Orange County
Legal Aid — Central Carolina office
205 West Main Street, Suite 203, Carrboro, NC 27510
919-542-0475- Use the official office directory or application to ask about adult civil legal help in Orange County.
- Visits are by appointment; confirm the location, case type, and eligibility.
- Keep notices and deadlines; contacting an office does not pause a court or appeal deadline.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Durham County
Legal Aid — Durham office
411 West Chapel Hill Road, Suite 1A, Durham, NC 27701
919-688-6396- Ask about adult civil legal help for Durham County and whether the case is eligible.
- Confirm intake and appointment arrangements before visiting.
- Keep notices and deadlines; representation and case acceptance are not guaranteed.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Wake County
Legal Aid — Raleigh office
1425 Promise Beacon Circle, Suite 201, Raleigh
- Use Legal Aid’s official office directory or application to request adult civil legal help for Wake County.
- Confirm the current address, intake arrangements, and case eligibility before visiting.
- Do not wait past a court or appeal deadline while seeking representation.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Orange County
Orange County Courthouse
106 East Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-644-4500- Ask the clerk which office or form applies to the matter; court staff do not act as your lawyer.
- Confirm the hearing building, filing requirements, and deadlines from the notice.
- For a protective order or guardianship matter, use the official court instructions and seek legal advice.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Durham County
Durham County Courthouse
510 South Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701
919-808-3000- Ask the clerk which office or form applies to the matter; court staff do not act as your lawyer.
- Confirm the hearing building, filing requirements, and deadlines from the notice.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Wake County
Wake County Courthouse
316 Fayetteville Street Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601
919-792-4000- Confirm the correct building: criminal matters may be at the Wake County Justice Center rather than this courthouse.
- Ask the clerk about forms, filing, and deadlines; court staff do not provide legal representation.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Key facts
- SSI: SSA ignores the first $65 of earnings (plus $20 of any income), then counts only half of what's left. So most people keep more total money by working.
- SSI section 1619(b) can keep Medicaid going even when earnings stop the SSI check.
- SSDI Trial Work Period: 9 months (in a 60-month window) where any earnings over $1,210/month (2026) count, and the person still gets the full SSDI check.
- After that, there's a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility. Benefits stop in months earnings are above SGA ($1,690/month in 2026).
- Expedited Reinstatement lets someone restart benefits within 5 years without a new application.
- Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and PASS plans can lower countable income.
- Ticket to Work is free and voluntary. It connects people to job help from Vocational Rehabilitation or Employment Networks.
- ABLE accounts (for disability that started before age 26; before age 46 starting in 2026) let people save up to $100,000 without hurting SSI.
Official sources
- SSA: Red Book (work incentives)
- Choose Work / Ticket to Work
- SSA: 2026 amounts (TWP, SGA)
- ABLE accounts (SSA)
Last checked October 2026. Amounts and rules change, so confirm with the official source before sharing.