Purple is a fintech app for managing disability benefits, not a way to increase your SSDI payment

Purple is a mobile app designed to help people on SSDI and SSI track their benefits, understand their payment amounts, and manage work-related earnings reports. It does not change how much Social Security pays you, negotiate with SSA on your behalf, or unlock hidden money in your account. If you arrived here from "How Much Will I Receive," Purple is a tool for understanding the payment you already may have access to for—not for changing that number.

The app pulls information from your Social Security account and displays it in a format meant to be easier to read than the official SSA website or your paper statements. It can help you see your current payment amount, track changes to your benefit, and log work earnings if you are using a work incentive like Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) or Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE). For someone trying to understand why their payment is what it is, or monitoring whether a work incentive is affecting their check, Purple can be useful.

Key Takeaways

  • Purple shows you your current SSDI or SSI payment amount and payment history, but does not change the amount Social Security sends you.
  • The app can help you track work earnings and understand how they affect your benefit, which is useful if you are using a work incentive.
  • Purple requires you to connect your Social Security account to the app, which means sharing login credentials with a private company.
  • Social Security does not endorse or operate Purple; it is a third-party service, so SSA cannot may provide it will always show accurate information.
  • Purple is not a substitute for contacting SSA directly if you believe your payment is wrong or if you need to report a change in your circumstances.

How Purple connects to your Social Security account

Purple works by asking you to log in with your Social Security username and password. The app then reads your benefit information from your SSA account and displays it on your phone. This is the same information you would see if you logged into my Social Security (the official SSA website) yourself, but Purple reformats it and adds features like earnings tracking and notifications.

Because Purple is not run by Social Security, you are trusting a private company with your SSA login. Social Security does not officially partner with Purple, endorse it, or monitor how the company uses your data. Before you connect your account, read Purple's privacy policy carefully. Some people prefer to manage their benefits directly through my Social Security instead, which avoids sharing credentials with a third party.

What Purple can and cannot tell you about your payment amount

Purple can show you your current monthly payment and your payment history—what you received last month, the month before, and so on. If your payment changed, Purple will display the new amount. This is helpful if you want to see at a glance whether a work incentive or a change in your circumstances has affected your check.

Purple cannot tell you why your payment is the amount it is. If you want to understand how Social Security calculated your benefit—what your Primary Insurance Amount is, how your work history affected it, or whether you are receiving a reduced payment because you claimed early—you need to contact SSA directly or review your official benefit statement. Purple also cannot predict what your payment will be in the future if your circumstances change, because that calculation depends on SSA's rules and your individual situation.

Using Purple to track work earnings and work incentives

If you are working while on SSDI and using a work incentive like PASS or IRWE, Purple can help you log your monthly earnings in one place. This is useful for keeping your own records, but it does not report your earnings to Social Security automatically. You still have to report work earnings to SSA yourself, either by phone, mail, or through my Social Security.

Purple's earnings tracker can help you see how much you have earned in a month and whether you are approaching the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold—the income level at which SSA may determine you are no longer disabled. For 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 for blind beneficiaries, but these amounts change yearly. Purple may or may not update these thresholds automatically, so verify the current SGA amount on SSA's website before relying on the app's calculations.

When Purple information does not match your SSA statement

Because Purple is a third-party app, there is a small risk that the information it displays will not match what Social Security's official records show. This can happen if there is a delay in Purple updating your data, a technical glitch, or a change SSA made that Purple has not yet reflected. If you see a discrepancy, the official source is always your SSA account or your paper benefit statement, not Purple.

If Purple shows a payment amount that seems wrong, do not assume Purple is correct. Log into my Social Security directly or call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm. SSA is the only source that can explain why your payment is what it is or correct an error. Purple can flag that something may have changed, but it cannot resolve a payment problem.

Privacy and security considerations

Using Purple means sharing your Social Security username and password with a private company. Even if Purple's security is strong, you are increasing the number of places where your SSA credentials exist. If Purple is hacked or if the company is sold to another firm, your login information could be at risk. Social Security recommends using a strong, unique password for your my Social Security account and changing it regularly—especially if you share it with any app.

Some people choose to manage their benefits without using third-party apps for this reason. You can track your payment and earnings through my Social Security alone, or call SSA to ask questions about your benefit. There is no requirement to use Purple or any other fintech tool to stay informed about your SSDI.

Alternatives to Purple for tracking your SSDI payment

The official my Social Security website (ssa.gov) lets you view your benefit amount, payment history, and earnings record without using a third-party app. You can also set up direct deposit notifications so your bank alerts you when your payment arrives each month. This approach avoids sharing credentials with a private company.

If you prefer phone support, you can call SSA's toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative to review your payment with you. For work-related questions, you can also contact your local SSA field office or a Work Incentive Planning and information (WIPA) project, which offers free counseling on how work affects your benefits. WIPA counselors can help you understand work incentives and track earnings in a way that is tailored to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Purple increase my SSDI payment or help me get more money?

No. Purple only shows you the payment amount you already receive. It does not change your benefit, negotiate with Social Security, or unlock additional money. If you believe your payment is too low, you would need to contact SSA directly to discuss your case.

Is Purple safe to use with my Social Security login?

Purple uses security measures to protect your data, but you are sharing your SSA credentials with a private company that Social Security does not operate or endorse. Read Purple's privacy policy before connecting your account. Some people prefer to manage benefits through my Social Security directly to avoid this risk.

Will Purple report my work earnings to Social Security for me?

No. Purple can help you track and log your earnings, but you must report them to SSA yourself. You can report earnings by phone, mail, or through my Social Security. Purple's tracking feature is for your own records, not an automatic report to SSA.

What should I do if Purple shows a different payment amount than my SSA statement?

Trust your official SSA statement or my Social Security account, not Purple. Log into my Social Security directly or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the correct amount. If there is a discrepancy, SSA can explain why and correct any errors.

Can I use Purple instead of contacting Social Security about my benefits?

Purple is a tool for viewing information, not for resolving problems or making changes to your account. If you need to report a change, dispute a payment, or understand why your benefit is what it is, you must contact SSA directly by phone, mail, or through my Social Security.