The 2023 SGA amount was $1,470 per month

In 2023, Social Security set the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount at $1,470 per month. This is the earnings threshold: if you work and earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security counts that month as a month in which you performed substantial gainful activity. That matters because it can affect your SSDI benefits.

The SGA amount changes each year. Social Security calculates it based on the national average wage index from two years prior. Because wages rise over time, the SGA threshold rises too. The 2023 figure of $1,470 was higher than the 2022 amount of $1,350, and the 2024 amount moved higher still.

The SGA threshold applies to most people receiving SSDI. There are narrow exceptions—people who are blind have a separate, higher SGA amount—but for the vast majority of beneficiaries, $1,470 was the line in 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • If you earned more than $1,470 in a single month during 2023, Social Security could count that as a month of substantial gainful activity.
  • One month over the SGA amount does not automatically stop your benefits; the rules about how many months matter depend on your specific situation and the work incentive you are using.
  • The SGA amount increases each January, so the 2023 figure no longer applies to current work—you need to check the current year's amount.
  • Blind beneficiaries have a higher SGA threshold and should not use the $1,470 figure to assess their own situation.

How Social Security measures your earnings against SGA

Social Security looks at your gross earnings—the money you make before taxes or deductions—not your net pay. If you are self-employed, they count your net profit from self-employment. The comparison is month by month, not averaged across the year.

This means you could earn $2,000 in January, fall below $1,470 in February through November, and Social Security would still count January as a month of SGA. The months below the threshold do not erase the months above it. What matters for your benefits depends on which work incentive you are using and how many SGA months you accumulate.

If you are unsure whether a particular payment counts as earnings, the Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project in your state can walk you through it. WIPA is free and run by disability organizations, not by Social Security itself. You can find your local WIPA office through the Benefits.gov website or by calling 1-866-968-WIPA.

Why the SGA amount matters for your benefits

The SGA threshold is the trigger for several different rules. If you are in your Trial Work Period (a nine-month window early in your return to work), you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check—the SGA amount does not limit you during those nine months. But once your Trial Work Period ends, the SGA threshold becomes the boundary.

After your Trial Work Period, if you earn over SGA in a month, that month counts toward your Extended may be able to access Period. During Extended may be able to access, you keep your SSDI for nine more months even if you earn over SGA, but those months are being counted down. Once Extended may be able to access ends, if you are still earning over SGA, your benefits stop.

There is also the Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction, which lets you subtract certain disability-related costs from your earnings before comparing them to SGA. If you use IRWE and your adjusted earnings fall below $1,470, that month does not count as SGA even though your gross earnings were higher.

The difference between 2023 and current SGA amounts

The 2023 SGA amount of $1,470 is historical information. If you are working now or planning to return to work, you need the current year's SGA amount, which Social Security announces each October for the following January.

The SGA amount has risen nearly every year for the past two decades. Between 2020 and 2023, it went from $1,260 to $1,470—a jump of $210 over three years. The 2024 amount was $1,550, and 2025 brought another increase. You can find the current SGA amount on the Social Security website under "Earnings Test" or by calling Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213.

What happens if you earned over SGA in 2023

If you worked in 2023 and earned over $1,470 in one or more months, the effect on your benefits depends on where you were in your work incentive timeline. If you were still in your Trial Work Period, those months had no effect on your benefits at all. If you had already completed your Trial Work Period and were in Extended may be able to access, those months counted down your nine-month window. If you had exhausted both, your benefits may have stopped.

Social Security does not stop your benefits when ready when you cross the SGA threshold. They process earnings reports, usually submitted by you or your employer, and then adjust your benefits based on the rules that explore to your situation. The adjustment can take several months to process.

If you are unsure whether your 2023 earnings affected your benefits, you can contact Social Security to request a detailed earnings record. Ask them to show you which months they counted as SGA months and which work incentive period you were in during each month. This record is free and can help you understand what happened and what to expect going forward.

Planning your work if you are on SSDI

Knowing the SGA amount is only the first step. The real planning involves understanding which work incentive applies to you and what your goals are. If you want to test your ability to work without losing benefits, the Trial Work Period lets you do that for nine months regardless of earnings. If you want to gradually return to work, IRWE or other deductions might let you stay under the SGA threshold even as you earn more.

A WIPA counselor or a benefits planner can help you map out a work plan that fits your situation. They can show you how different earnings levels would affect your benefits under different scenarios. This planning is free and confidential, and it can save you from accidentally losing benefits or from staying out of work longer than necessary because you misunderstood the rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does earning over $1,470 one time stop my SSDI?

Not automatically. One month over SGA counts as a month of substantial gainful activity, but whether it stops your benefits depends on which work incentive period you are in. During Trial Work Period, it has no effect. During Extended may be able to access, it counts down your nine-month window. After both end, multiple SGA months trigger a benefit stop.

What if I earned over SGA in 2023 but did not report it?

Social Security may discover the earnings through tax records or employer reports. If they do, they will adjust your benefits retroactively and may ask you to repay benefits you received during months you should not have. Report earnings promptly to avoid this. If you already missed reporting, contact Social Security now to correct the record.

Is the 2023 SGA amount still used for anything?

The 2023 amount of $1,470 is used only to evaluate work you did in 2023. For any work in 2024 or later, Social Security uses the SGA amount for that year. Check the current year's amount before you plan your work or report your earnings.

Do I have to report earnings if I stayed under $1,470?

Yes. Social Security requires you to report all work and earnings, even if you stayed under SGA. Failing to report can result in an overpayment that you will have to repay. Report through your online my Social Security account, by phone, or in person at your local office.