The 2025 SGA amount is $1,550 per month

Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA, is a dollar threshold Social Security uses to decide whether you are working enough to lose your disability benefits. In 2025, that threshold is $1,550 per month for people who are not blind. If you earn more than $1,550 in a month, Social Security will assume you are working at a substantial level and may stop your SSDI payments.

This number changes every year because Social Security ties it to the national average wage. The $1,550 figure applies to most people receiving SSDI. There is a separate, higher SGA amount for people who are blind — $2,590 per month in 2025 — because the law recognizes that blind workers often need more income to cover work-related expenses.

The SGA amount is not a hard rule about how much you can earn before you lose benefits entirely. It is the point at which Social Security begins to review your case more closely. Understanding how it works prevents you from accidentally triggering a benefits review or overpayment.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA amount is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 per month for blind workers.
  • Earning more than the SGA amount in a single month does not automatically end your benefits, but it signals to Social Security that you may be working at a substantial level.
  • Social Security counts only your gross earnings — the amount before taxes — when measuring against the SGA threshold.
  • The SGA amount increases each year, so you should check the current figure before taking a job or increasing your work hours.
  • If you earn above SGA, report it to Social Security within 10 days to avoid an overpayment you will have to repay later.

How Social Security measures your earnings against SGA

Social Security looks at your gross monthly earnings — the total you earn before taxes, deductions, or anything else comes out. They do not subtract what you pay in federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, or union dues. They count the full amount you receive from your employer or from self-employment.

The measurement is monthly, not yearly. You could earn $2,000 in January and $1,000 in February and Social Security would flag only January. Each month stands on its own. This matters if you work seasonally, get a bonus in one month, or have variable income.

Social Security also does not count certain types of income toward SGA. Unearned income — money from savings, investments, pensions, or other benefits — does not count. Only work earnings count. If you receive SSDI and also collect a pension, the pension does not push you over the SGA threshold.

What happens when you earn above the SGA amount

Crossing the SGA threshold does not mean your benefits stop when ready. Instead, it means Social Security will look more carefully at your work to determine whether you are truly able to work at a substantial level. They may ask you questions about your job, your hours, and your work capacity.

If Social Security decides you are working substantially, they may suspend your benefits. Suspension is different from termination — it means your benefits pause while you work, and they can restart if your earnings drop back below SGA or if you stop working. During suspension, you keep your Medicare coverage for at least 93 months, which is a significant protection.

If you earn above SGA for nine months in a row (not necessarily consecutive), Social Security will likely end your benefits through a process called a "medical review." At that point, you would need to show that your condition has worsened or that you cannot actually work at a substantial level, even though your earnings suggest otherwise.

The trial work period and extended earnings

When you first return to work after starting SSDI, you enter a trial work period that lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount — even well above SGA — without losing your benefits. Social Security does not count trial work period months toward the nine-month rule that triggers a medical review.

After your trial work period ends, you enter the extended earnings period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, if you earn above SGA in any month, that month counts toward the nine-month threshold. Once you accumulate nine months above SGA, Social Security will review your case.

The trial work period is a real protection, but it is also a one-time benefit. You get nine months of unlimited earnings once per lifetime on SSDI. After those nine months end, the SGA threshold applies to every month you work.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your earnings to Social Security within 10 days of the end of the month in which you earned them. This is not optional. If you do not report and Social Security finds out later, you may owe back an overpayment — money you received but were not supposed to get — and you will have to repay it.

You can report earnings by phone, by mail, or through your online Social Security account. The fastest method is usually your online account, where you can log in and enter your monthly earnings directly. If you do not have an account, you can create one at ssa.gov.

Keep records of your pay stubs or invoices. If Social Security questions your earnings later, you will need proof of what you actually earned. A pay stub from your employer is the clearest evidence.

Self-employment and SGA

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — the money left after you subtract legitimate business expenses — as your earnings. This is different from an employee, where they count gross pay before any deductions.

For self-employed people, Social Security also looks at something called substantial services. Even if your net profit is below SGA, if you work enough hours or put in significant effort, Social Security may decide you are working substantially. There is no exact hour threshold, but generally working 45 hours or more per month in your business raises questions.

Self-employed SSDI recipients should keep detailed records of hours worked, business expenses, and net income. These records help you show Social Security exactly what you earned and how much work you actually did.

Planning ahead if you want to work

If you are thinking about returning to work while on SSDI, knowing the SGA amount helps you plan. You could work part-time and stay below $1,550 per month, keeping your benefits and your work income together. Or you could use your trial work period to test a full-time job without losing benefits, then decide whether to continue.

Some people work above SGA intentionally, knowing their benefits will suspend but their work income will replace it. This is a valid choice if your work income is stable and higher than your SSDI payment. Just report it to Social Security so there is no surprise overpayment later.

Social Security also offers work incentives beyond the trial work period — programs like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) that can help you keep more of your benefits while working. These are separate from SGA but work alongside it. A Social Security work incentives counselor can explain your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the SGA amount change every year?

Yes. Social Security updates the SGA amount each January based on the national average wage from two years prior. This means the 2025 amount was set in early 2024 based on 2023 wage data. You should check the current SGA amount at the start of each year if you are working or planning to work.

What if I earn above SGA for just one month?

One month above SGA does not end your benefits. Social Security only becomes concerned if you earn above SGA for nine months within your extended earnings period. One high-earning month is noted but does not trigger a review by itself. Still, report it to Social Security within 10 days.

Does my spouse's income count toward my SGA?

No. Only your own earnings count toward your SGA threshold. Your spouse's income, your children's income, or anyone else's income in your household does not affect whether you cross the SGA line. Social Security measures only what you personally earn.

Can I work part-time and stay below SGA?

Yes, many people do this. If you earn less than $1,550 per month, you stay below the SGA threshold and keep your full SSDI payment plus your work income. The exact hours or schedule depend on your hourly wage, but part-time work often fits below SGA.

What if I disagree with Social Security's decision about my earnings?

You can request an appeal if Social Security says you earned more than you reported, or if you believe they miscalculated your income. You have 60 days from the date of the notice to file an appeal. An appeal goes through Social Security's reconsideration process, and you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge if you disagree with the reconsideration decision.