The 2025 SGA amount for non-blind workers is $1,550 per month

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and are not blind, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold for 2025 is $1,550 monthly. This means if you earn more than $1,550 in a calendar month, Social Security will assume you are working at a substantial level and may stop your benefits or end your trial work period.

The SGA amount changes each year because it is tied to the national average wage index. Social Security announced the 2025 figure in October 2024. The amount applies to your gross earnings — the money before taxes and deductions — so a job that pays $1,600 per month counts as SGA even if your take-home is less.

This threshold matters whether you are working now, thinking about returning to work, or in a trial work period. Understanding how it affects your benefits prevents unexpected payment stops and helps you plan a return to work without losing coverage.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA amount is $1,550 per month for non-blind SSDI recipients, measured by gross earnings before taxes.
  • Earning more than $1,550 in any single month signals to Social Security that you may be working substantially, which can end your trial work period or stop your benefits.
  • The SGA amount increases most years; the 2024 amount was $1,550, and the 2026 amount will be announced in October 2025.
  • You can test your work capacity during a nine-month trial work period without losing benefits, but months where you earn over SGA count toward that nine-month window.
  • Self-employment income, irregular earnings, and work incentive programs like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) have different rules and may allow you to earn above SGA in some months.

How Social Security measures your earnings against SGA

Social Security counts your gross monthly earnings — the total you earn before any deductions. This includes wages from an employer, net profit from self-employment, and any other work income. Taxes, insurance premiums, and other payroll deductions do not reduce the amount Social Security counts.

The measurement is monthly, not yearly. You could earn $2,000 in January and $1,000 in February and only the January month would trigger SGA. Social Security looks at each calendar month separately. If you work part-time or have irregular hours, the month you cross $1,550 is the month that counts.

For self-employed workers, the rules are more complex. Social Security uses net profit (income minus business expenses) rather than gross revenue, and the calculation includes a test of your work effort — how many hours you work and whether you are doing the work yourself or directing others. If you are self-employed, contact your local Social Security office to discuss how your specific situation is measured.

What happens when you earn above the SGA amount

If you are in a trial work period and earn over $1,550 in a month, that month counts as one of your nine trial work months. You keep your full SSDI payment that month, but you use up one of the nine months you have to test your work capacity. Once you use all nine months, you enter the extended may be able to access period, where benefits stop if you earn over SGA for nine more months.

If you are past your trial work period and extended may be able to access period and you earn over $1,550 in a month, your SSDI payment stops for that month. Your Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 more months after benefits end, so you do not lose health insurance when ready.

If your earnings drop back below $1,550 in later months, your benefits can restart. You do not have to reapply; Social Security will reinstate your payment once the month your earnings fall below SGA. However, there is a waiting period — your benefits do not restart until the month after the month you earn below SGA.

Trial work period and how SGA affects it

The trial work period is a nine-month window where you can earn any amount without losing your SSDI payment. However, only months where you earn less than $1,550 are "free" — they do not count toward your nine months. Any month where you earn $1,550 or more counts as a trial work month, even if you earn $10,000 that month.

This means if you work part-time and stay under $1,550 most months, your trial work period can stretch across many calendar months. If you earn over $1,550 every month, you will use up your nine trial work months in nine calendar months. The choice of how to pace your work is yours, but Social Security tracks which months count.

After your nine trial work months end, you have a three-month grace period where you keep your full benefit even if you earn over SGA. Then the extended may be able to access period begins — you can work and earn over SGA for nine more months, but your benefits stop in any month you earn over $1,550. After those nine months, if you are still earning over SGA, your benefits end permanently unless you become unable to work again.

Work incentive programs that change how SGA applies

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) allow you to deduct certain costs from your earnings before Social Security measures them against SGA. If you pay for a personal assistant, specialized transportation, medical devices, or other costs directly related to your disability and work, you may be able to subtract those costs from your gross earnings. The remaining amount is what counts toward SGA.

For example, if you earn $1,800 per month but pay $300 for a personal care attendant you need because of your disability, your countable earnings would be $1,500 — below the SGA threshold. You must document these expenses and report them to Social Security; they do not happen automatically.

Other work incentives like Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and Subsidy and Unincorporated Self-Employment information have their own rules for how they interact with SGA. If you are using any work incentive, ask your local Social Security office or a benefits planning service to explain how your specific expenses or plan affects your SGA measurement.

Blind workers have a different SGA amount

If you are blind and receiving SSDI, your SGA threshold is higher: $2,590 per month in 2025. Social Security uses a separate, higher SGA amount for blind workers because the law recognizes that blindness may require additional work-related expenses. The rules for trial work periods and extended may be able to access are the same, but the dollar threshold is different.

If you are unsure whether Social Security considers you blind for SGA purposes, contact your local office. The definition is specific — it is not the same as your state's definition of legal blindness for other programs.

Planning your return to work with the SGA amount in mind

If you are thinking about working while on SSDI, knowing the SGA amount helps you decide how much to earn each month. You might choose to stay under $1,550 to stretch your trial work period across more calendar months, giving yourself more time to see if you can sustain work. Or you might earn over SGA some months and under it others, depending on the work available and your condition.

Before you start work, contact your local Social Security office or a work incentive planning service (often free through your state's Ticket to Work program). They can explain your specific trial work period status, help you understand how your job will affect your benefits month by month, and discuss work incentives that might help you earn more without losing benefits.

Keep records of your earnings — pay stubs, invoices if self-employed, or a letter from your employer stating your monthly gross income. Social Security will ask for these records, and having them ready prevents delays in processing your benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the SGA amount change every year?

Yes. Social Security announces the new SGA amount each October for the following year. The amount is based on the national average wage index from two years prior. The 2025 amount is $1,550; the 2024 amount was $1,550. Check Social Security's website or contact your local office in October to learn the amount for the next year if you are planning ahead.

What if I earn over $1,550 one month but under it the next month?

Only the month you earn over $1,550 counts as a trial work month (if you are in your trial work period) or causes your benefits to stop (if you are in extended may be able to access). The following month, if you earn under $1,550, you are back under the threshold. Your benefits restart the month after you earn below SGA, though there is a one-month delay in payment.

Can I use work incentives to lower my earnings below SGA?

Yes, if you have may have access to expenses. IRWE and other work incentives let you deduct certain disability-related costs from your gross earnings before Social Security measures them against SGA. You must report these expenses to Social Security and provide documentation. Not all expenses may have access to, so ask your local office which ones explore to your situation.

What if I am self-employed — how does SGA explore?

Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses) rather than gross revenue, and also considers how many hours you work and whether you are doing the work yourself. The calculation is more involved than for wage earners. Contact your local Social Security office to discuss your self-employment income and how it is measured against SGA.

Do I lose Medicare if my SSDI benefits stop because I earned over SGA?

No. You keep Medicare for at least 93 months after your SSDI benefits end due to work. After that, you may be able to buy into Medicare or may have access to for other coverage. Your local Social Security office can explain your Medicare options if your benefits stop.