The 2025 SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers

If you receive SSDI and work, the Social Security Administration uses the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount to decide whether your earnings are high enough to affect your benefits. Starting January 1, 2025, that threshold is $1,550 monthly for most disabled workers. If you are blind, your SGA amount is $2,590 monthly. These numbers change each year based on the national average wage index.

The SGA amount matters because it is the dividing line between working and potentially losing benefits. If your monthly earnings stay below the SGA threshold, Social Security treats your work as unsuccessful and does not count it against you — you keep your full SSDI payment. If you earn at or above the SGA amount in a month, Social Security may decide you are no longer disabled and begin a process that can end your benefits.

The threshold applies to your gross earnings before taxes, not your take-home pay. It includes wages from employment, net profit from self-employment, and certain other forms of income. Unpaid work, sheltered workshop earnings below a certain level, and income from sources other than work do not count toward SGA.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA amount is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers; if you earn less than this in a month, your work does not trigger a benefits review based on earnings alone.
  • Blind workers have a higher SGA threshold of $2,590 monthly, reflecting different work capacity assumptions.
  • SGA is calculated on gross earnings before taxes and includes self-employment income, but excludes unpaid volunteer work and certain sheltered workshop earnings.
  • Exceeding SGA in one month does not automatically end your benefits; Social Security must also determine that your condition has medically improved.
  • The SGA amount increases each January based on the national average wage index, so you should check the current year's figure before relying on an older number.

How the SGA threshold affects your benefits month to month

Earning below the SGA amount in a given month means Social Security will not use your work as a reason to review whether you are still disabled. You receive your full SSDI payment that month, and your work record does not trigger a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) based on work activity alone.

If you earn at or above $1,550 (or $2,590 if blind) in a single month, Social Security may initiate a CDR to determine whether your medical condition has improved enough that you are no longer disabled. This does not mean your benefits stop when ready. The agency must obtain current medical evidence and make a new disability information. Many people continue to receive benefits even after exceeding SGA in a month because their condition has not medically improved.

The SGA test is separate from the Trial Work Period (TWP), which is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount without affecting your benefits. After your TWP ends, the SGA threshold becomes the main earnings test. If you have not yet used your TWP, you have more flexibility to test your work capacity without triggering a benefits review.

Self-employment income and how it counts toward SGA

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — not your gross revenue — toward the SGA threshold. Net profit is what remains after you subtract ordinary and necessary business expenses from your gross income. This means you can have higher total revenue and still stay below SGA if your expenses are substantial.

Self-employment income is averaged over a reasonable period, usually three to six months, rather than measured month to month. This averaging can work in your favor if your income fluctuates. A single high-earning month may not push you over SGA if your average across the period stays below the threshold.

You must report your self-employment income to Social Security. Keep records of your gross revenue and all business expenses — rent, supplies, equipment, utilities, professional fees, and wages you pay to employees. These records are what Social Security uses to calculate your net profit and determine whether you have exceeded SGA.

Work incentives that let you earn above SGA without losing benefits

SSDI includes several work incentives that allow you to earn above the SGA threshold while keeping some or all of your benefits. The most common is the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — starting a business, getting training, or reaching a higher-paying job. Money in a PASS does not count toward SGA or other income limits.

The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction lets you subtract certain costs directly related to your disability from your earnings before Social Security calculates whether you have exceeded SGA. If you pay for a personal assistant, specialized transportation, medical devices, or therapy needed to work, these costs may reduce your countable earnings.

The Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) program protects you if your benefits stop because of work. Within five years of your benefits ending, you can return to work and have your benefits reinstated without a new disability information if your medical condition has not substantially improved. During the reinstatement process, you have a new nine-month TWP.

Why the SGA amount changes each year

Social Security adjusts the SGA threshold annually on January 1 based on the national average wage index from two years prior. The index measures the average earnings of all workers in the United States and reflects wage growth across the economy. When average wages rise, the SGA amount rises with it.

The 2025 SGA amount of $1,550 reflects the national average wage index from 2023. In 2024, the SGA amount was $1,550 as well, meaning there was no increase that year. In 2023, it was $1,470. These year-to-year changes are usually modest — typically between $50 and $100 — but they do add up over time.

Social Security publishes the new SGA amount in the Federal Register and on its website by November of the prior year. If you work and your earnings are close to the threshold, check the current year's amount before the calendar year begins. Using an outdated figure could lead you to misjudge whether you have exceeded SGA.

What happens if you exceed SGA and Social Security reviews your case

Exceeding the SGA amount triggers a Continuing Disability Review, but it does not automatically end your benefits. Social Security must obtain medical evidence about your current condition and make a new information of whether you remain disabled under the same rules that applied when you were first approved.

During the review, you will receive a letter asking you to provide medical records from your doctors. You should respond promptly and include records that show your current symptoms, limitations, and treatment. If your condition has not improved, Social Security will likely continue your benefits even though your earnings exceeded SGA.

If Social Security determines that your condition has improved and you are no longer disabled, your benefits will stop. You will receive notice of this decision and have the right to request reconsideration or a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. You can also request expedited reinstatement if you stop working or your earnings drop below SGA within five years.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security. The method depends on your state and your situation. Many states use the Ticket to Work program, which includes an online earnings reporting system. Others use a phone line or paper form. When you are first approved for SSDI, Social Security will tell you how to report.

Report your earnings as soon as you can after the end of each month. Do not wait until the end of the year. Timely reporting helps Social Security process your case correctly and prevents overpayments that you would have to repay later. If you are unsure whether a particular type of income counts, ask your local Social Security office or your work incentives planning and information (WIPA) counselor before reporting it.

If you fail to report earnings and Social Security later discovers the discrepancy, you may owe back benefits. This is true even if you did not intentionally hide the income. Reporting promptly and accurately protects you from overpayment debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earn $1,549 one month and $1,551 the next, will my benefits stop?

No. Exceeding SGA in one month does not stop your benefits. Social Security will initiate a Continuing Disability Review to examine your medical condition, but your benefits continue while the review is underway. Your benefits stop only if Social Security determines that your condition has medically improved and you are no longer disabled.

Does the SGA amount explore to SSI as well as SSDI?

No. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) uses a different earnings test called the Substantial Work Activity test, which has different thresholds and rules. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, ask your Social Security representative which rules explore to your situation.

Can I use a PASS to earn above SGA without triggering a review?

A PASS does not prevent a Continuing Disability Review if your gross earnings exceed SGA. However, a PASS can help you keep more of your benefits during the review by reducing your countable income. You must have a written PASS approved by Social Security before the income is set aside.

What if my job pays commission or tips that vary month to month?

Report your actual gross earnings each month, including commission and tips. If your earnings fluctuate, Social Security may average them over a period of months to determine whether you have exceeded SGA. Keep records of all payments you receive so you can report accurately.

Where can I find the SGA amount for my state?

The SGA amount is the same nationwide — $1,550 for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers in 2025. You can confirm the current year's amount on the Social Security Administration website or by calling your local Social Security office.