Wanna Get Paid to Donate Plasma?
Let’s face it, regardless of how good or bad the economy is doing, times are tough for many folks. There always seems to be ‘more month than money’ and an awful lot of people are living paycheck-to-paycheck in the community. One way people can make some extra money is by donating plasma. There are many advantages to doing this, even beyond the financial payment. It helps to know how to maximize your financial payments and reduce the time you spend at the donation center, so read on!
Let’s quickly get this out of the way… The information listed below is general information. Each donation company is going to be different and each donation center will have their own policies, procedures, and payment schedules. Be sure to carefully check out the website for the company you choose, ask specific questions at the donation center you decide to go to, and if you ever have questions or concerns along the way — don’t be afraid to ask. The people at these centers are always happy to help.
How much money can you make donating plasma?
1. You are only able to donate plasma twice in a seven-day period and never two days in a row. Remember this rule — it is very important, not only for your health but also for making sure you maximize all the bonuses and promotions available to you. Your body regenerates the amount of plasma that you donated very quickly. As long as you follow the pre- and post-donation instructions (especially drinking water!), your plasma levels are back to normal within 48 hours. That’s why you can only give plasma twice in a seven-day period, but never two days in a row.
2. The amount you get paid may vary widely depending on what donation center you choose — even within the same donation company. The amount they pay can vary from town to town. To find out how much you can make in your area, call the center you are planning to donate with and find out what their payment schedule is.
3. As a new donor, you make a ton more money in your first month. To maximize the money you make, be sure to start donating on the 1st of the month. This is because donation centers have promotions every month where the more you donate, the more money you make. If you start donating in the middle of the month, you have lost out on the best opportunity to maximize that promotion.
4. The promotions are great, but your best bet is simply to just make sure that you always donate every week, twice a week without fail. Stick to your same two days every week or you will get messed up because of that seven-day rule. Staying on the same two days (i.e., Fridays and Sundays each week) will ensure you always get the maximum amount of money offered in bonuses.
5. Referring people to become new donors is the biggest way to make extra money, once you are just a “regular” donor yourself. The referral bonus is usually very generous. Make sure you know the specifics of how it works so you get credit for your referrals.
6. Make sure you give the center your email, mobile phone number, and address. Many times, they will email coupons you can bring in for additional bonuses, or even mail you a post card with a similar coupon. If you give them your cell phone number, they may text you a special promo code which equals an added bonus payment.
7. If your donation center has an app, make sure you always check to see if there are surveys, games, or other things you can do to earn points or the like. Many times, these add up to cash or prizes.
Speaking of the app…
This can be your best friend if your donation center offers one. Typically, an app will be able to show you what the busy or slower times are expected to be for that day and even give you the opportunity to let the center know what time you plan on showing up. This is usually not an “appointment” (although some donation companies do allow you to schedule donation appointments!) but instead, this tells the center when they need to schedule additional staff.
In addition, most donation centers allow you to complete your day-of health questionnaire through the app, instead of having to do it in the center when you arrive. This is a huge time saver and reduces the amount of time you spend standing in line.
Advantages to donating plasma:
1. There is not a huge time commitment. Yes, your first visit will be longer, as there is paperwork to fill out, etc. After that, the typical time spent donating can be as short at 40 minutes, depending on how busy the donation center is at that time. Considering how much money you can make for your donation, that is a great “per hour” rate!
2. Most people in the community can donate. You will need to check the specific requirements for the center where you will be donating, but here are the typical donation restrictions for many donation companies:
- You must be in good general health.
- Be between the ages of 18–75 years old.
- Must weigh at least 110 pounds.
- Can’t have gotten tattoos or piercings within the last 4 months.
- Must meet eligibility and screening requirements.
- Must have valid identification.
- Must have a permanent address.
- Cannot have AIDS or have previously tested positive for HIV.
- In the past four months, you cannot have injected drugs, steroids, or other substances not prescribed by a doctor.
- You cannot have engaged in sex for money or drugs in the last four months.
- Men who have had sexual contact with other men in the last four months cannot donate.
- Similarly, if you have viral hepatitis or have had close contact with someone who does in the last 12 months, you should not donate plasma.
Other than that, you are typically eligible to donate plasma!
Double check with the center where you will be donating, but traditionally, there are no restrictions for having a disability, prior incarceration, or immigration status like you might find in a “regular” employment situation. Of course, donating plasma is not a “job”, but the parallel of getting paid for showing up is there.
3. Most donation centers have very generous hours so you can easily find a convenient time to donate that works with your schedule.
4. Contact the center where you donate to see what their policy is, but in most cases, the money you make from donating is not officially taxed. Note the word “officially”. According to the IRS, you are absolutely supposed to report the money you make on your taxes as earned income. Yes, even though there is little probability that the donation center is going to issue you a 1099-MISC form, and therefore they also will not be reporting the payments to the IRS. However, that can always change, probably without notice.
5. There is no question about it: your plasma donation saves lives. Donated plasma is used for patients with rare diseases, used to make medicines to treat those with immunodeficiencies, neurological disorders, cancers, burns, etc. It is also used in organ transplant surgeries, and much more.
Do you receive cash for your donation?
Almost every company has moved to debit cards, making their business a cashless operation now. Therefore, at the end of your donation, your payment is automatically added to your plasma debit card. You can then access these funds by going to certain ATMs to avoid paying any fees — or you can just use the debit card at a store to pay for groceries, etc. With some debit cards, you even get cash rebates for using your plasma debit card at certain merchants. Be sure to read up on all the specifics associated with your debit card so you can avoid paying any needless fees.
What are the donation centers like?
Nearly every donation company prides themselves on providing clean, well lit, up-to-date, modern facilities with free parking and free wi-fi. They are often located in strip malls.
What type of people donate plasma?
Literally everyone. Your neighbors are donating plasma. People of every race, creed, color, religion (or no religion at all), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age (within the allowed age bracket, of course!) marital status, family/parental status, income status, education level, political beliefs, and disability (and ability). Bottom line: If they meet the donation eligibility requirements, they are donating plasma.
What companies pay for donating plasma…and which do not?
Do your research on the donation company where you decide to donate. Find out their policies, payment schedules, etc.
You can google “donate plasma for money” to find a donation center in your area, or you can go to here to search for a center near you:
(Note: this link will take you outside of Medium.com)
Then, if it is right for you, consider donating today! The benefits for you, and the patients who need life-saving plasma, are endless!
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