The 2019 SGA threshold was $1,220 per month for non-blind workers

In 2019, the Social Security Administration set the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold at $1,220 per month for workers who are not blind. This number matters because if you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security may assume you are capable of substantial work and review your disability status.

The threshold changes every year based on the national average wage index. The 2019 figure applied to work you did during that calendar year. If you were receiving SSDI in 2019 and earned over $1,220 in a single month, that did not automatically end your benefits, but it did trigger a closer look at your case.

For workers who are blind, the 2019 SGA threshold was higher: $2,040 per month. Blind workers have a separate, more generous threshold because Social Security recognizes that blindness creates different work barriers.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2019 SGA threshold of $1,220 per month applied to non-blind SSDI recipients; blind workers had a threshold of $2,040 per month.
  • Earning over the threshold in a single month does not automatically stop your benefits but does prompt Social Security to review whether you are still disabled.
  • The threshold changes every January based on wage data from the previous year, so the 2019 figure no longer applies to current work.
  • Trial work periods and other work incentives allow you to test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits, even if you exceed the SGA threshold.

How Social Security used the 2019 SGA threshold to review cases

If you reported earnings over $1,220 in any month during 2019, Social Security's systems flagged your case for medical review. This did not mean your benefits stopped right away. Instead, a claims examiner looked at whether your medical condition had improved enough that you could do substantial work.

The review process typically took 30 to 60 days. Social Security sent you a letter asking for details about your work: the job title, hours worked, duties, and how your disability affected your performance. You had the chance to explain how your condition limited you, even though you were earning above the threshold.

If Social Security concluded you could do substantial work based on your earnings and medical evidence, they would issue a notice of continuing disability review (CDR) decision. You could then request reconsideration or appeal.

The difference between the 2019 threshold and thresholds in other years

The SGA threshold rises most years because it is tied to national wage growth. In 2018, the threshold was $1,180 per month. By 2020, it had risen to $1,260. This means the 2019 figure of $1,220 sits in the middle of that progression.

If you are reviewing old SSDI records or trying to understand a decision from 2019, you need to know which year's threshold applied. Social Security uses the threshold from the year the work occurred, not the year they reviewed the case. Work you did in January 2019 was measured against the 2019 threshold, even if Social Security did not review your case until 2020.

The threshold also varies by state for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), though SSDI uses a single national figure. If you received both SSDI and SSI in 2019, the $1,220 threshold applied to your SSDI portion.

Work incentives that let you earn above the threshold without losing benefits

Social Security offers several programs that allow you to test your work capacity without the SGA threshold when ready ending your benefits. The most common is the trial work period, which lets you work and earn any amount for nine months (not necessarily consecutive) without affecting your SSDI check.

During the trial work period, you report your work to Social Security each month, but your benefits continue in full. After the nine months end, Social Security enters an extended may be able to access period lasting 36 months. During this time, you keep your benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA threshold, even if you exceeded it in other months.

Another option is the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources to reach a work goal without it counting against your SSI or SSDI. If you had a PASS in place in 2019, earnings that went toward your plan goal did not count toward the SGA threshold.

What happened if you exceeded the 2019 SGA threshold

Exceeding $1,220 in a month did not automatically stop your SSDI. Instead, it triggered a review. Social Security looked at your medical records, your job duties, and how your disability affected your work. If they found that your condition still prevented you from doing substantial work — even though you were earning above the threshold — your benefits continued.

Some people earn above the SGA threshold because they have good days and bad days, or because they work in a job that pays well but is unsustainable long-term. Social Security considers these factors. If your medical evidence showed you could not maintain that work, the threshold alone would not end your case.

If Social Security did decide to stop your benefits, you received a written notice explaining their decision and your right to appeal. You had 60 days to request reconsideration or appeal to an administrative law judge.

How to find the SGA threshold that applies to your situation

If you are trying to understand a 2019 decision or need to know which threshold applied to your work, start with your Social Security statement or the notice Social Security sent you. The notice should state which threshold they used and which year it came from.

You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative which SGA threshold applied to your case. Have your Social Security number and the month and year of the work in question ready.

Social Security's website publishes the SGA threshold for every year going back decades. If you are researching a past case or comparing thresholds across years, the official figures are available in their archives. The current year's threshold is always listed on the main SSDI page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does earning over $1,220 in one month mean my SSDI stops?

No. Exceeding the threshold in a single month triggers a review, but does not automatically end your benefits. Social Security looks at your medical condition and whether you can sustain substantial work. If your disability still prevents you from working, your benefits may continue even if you earned above the threshold in one month.

What if I was on a trial work period in 2019?

During a trial work period, the SGA threshold does not explore. You can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check. You report your earnings each month, but they do not affect your benefits. After the nine-month trial work period ends, the threshold applies again during the extended may be able to access period.

Is the 2019 SGA threshold still used today?

No. Social Security uses the threshold from the year you did the work. If you worked in 2024, the 2024 threshold applies, not the 2019 figure. The threshold changes every January, so you need to know which year's threshold is relevant to your case.

What if I earned over $1,220 but Social Security never reviewed my case?

Social Security's systems are supposed to flag all earnings above the threshold, but errors happen. If you reported earnings and heard nothing, contact Social Security to confirm they received your report. Do not assume the case is closed. It is better to verify than to be surprised by a notice months later.

Can I appeal if Social Security stopped my benefits based on the 2019 SGA threshold?

Yes. You have the right to request reconsideration within 60 days of the notice. You can submit new medical evidence, explain how your condition limits your work, or challenge Social Security's finding that you can do substantial work. If reconsideration is denied, you can appeal to an administrative law judge.