People who are disabled or have retired early, can work while on Social Security. It can be quite difficult to even qualify for disability, and also just as hard to keep it when you are never going to get back to fully functioning.  Currently they can make a certain amount and not lose their stipend, if disabled, or part of the stipend, if retired(Social Security may wait for a year's totals to make the determination). That amount is called substantial gains.  Unfortunately, the amount for substantial gains, is a decent amount below the standard Social Security stipend per month, and it gets even lower when it is taken into account that it is based off of gross pay before any taxes or other deductions are taken out. With my personal experience, I am physically disabled, I want to work. but I can not afford to lose my Social Security stipend. What I am proposing is that the base gets changed from a dollar amount to hours per pay period. As long it is a reasonable job, people shouldn't need to worry so much as to how much they get paid per hour, or if they have to jump through hoops to get a bonus and not have it count against them. They should be able to go for a job that gives experienced base pay, or have a union. Employers tend to focus more on how many hours an employee can work over how much they get paid. Minimum wages and unions have more say than employers. If it were changed to be based off 20 hours per week with a month being based off the standard 4.3 weeks per month, I feel that we may find more people who are on Social Security disability or retirement, may be willing to work, and their taxes would pay some back into Social Security and Medicare, versus having to choose to try and work some or keep their Social Security. It could be a win/win for both Social Security and the recipients.