What the 2025 SGA amount is and why it matters

The 2025 Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 per month for blind workers. This is the earnings threshold Social Security uses to decide whether you are working at a level that counts as substantial work. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security will assume you are no longer disabled and may stop your SSDI payments, even if you still have the same medical condition.

The SGA amount changes every year because it is tied to the national average wage index. Social Security announces the new figure in October or November for the following year. The 2025 amounts represent an increase from 2024, when the SGA limit was $1,550 for non-blind workers (which stayed the same) and $2,590 for blind workers (also unchanged). These increases are modest but cumulative—the SGA amount has roughly doubled since 2000.

The SGA test is one of the most direct ways Social Security measures whether you can work. It is not the only test—Social Security also looks at whether your work is "substantial" in nature and whether you are doing the work yourself—but the monthly earnings number is the clearest line. Cross it, and you enter a process that can lead to benefit suspension or termination.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers; if you earn more than this in any month, your SSDI may be suspended.
  • Blind workers have a higher SGA limit of $2,590 per month, reflecting the higher cost of work-related expenses for people who are blind.
  • The SGA amount increases most years and is announced in the fall for the following year; you can find the current amount on the Social Security website.
  • Earning above SGA does not automatically end your benefits, but it triggers a medical review and may result in a finding that you are no longer disabled.
  • Work incentives like the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access Period allow you to test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits.

How Social Security uses the SGA amount to evaluate your work

Social Security applies the SGA test in a specific order. First, they look at your gross monthly earnings—the amount before taxes and deductions. If you earn $1,550 or less in a month (in 2025, for non-blind workers), Social Security generally assumes you are not performing substantial work and your benefits continue. If you earn more than $1,550, Social Security moves to the next step: they examine whether the work itself is substantial in nature and whether you are doing it yourself or whether someone else is doing most of the work.

The earnings threshold is a bright-line rule, but it is not the whole story. A person earning $1,600 one month and $1,200 the next is not automatically in violation. Social Security looks at the pattern of work and earnings over time. They also account for work expenses—if you are self-employed or have disability-related work expenses, you can deduct those from your gross earnings before the SGA test is applied. This is one reason to keep careful records of any costs tied to your work.

If your earnings cross the SGA threshold, Social Security will send you a notice asking for details about your work. You will need to explain what you are doing, how many hours you work, and whether the nature of the work has changed. This is not an automatic denial; it is a trigger for review. Many people continue to receive benefits even after earning above SGA if Social Security determines the work is not substantial or if other factors explore.

Why the SGA amount is different for blind workers

The SGA limit for blind workers ($2,590 in 2025) is significantly higher than for non-blind workers ($1,550) because Social Security recognizes that people who are blind often have higher work-related expenses. These expenses can include the cost of a reader, transportation, adaptive technology, or other accommodations necessary to perform work. The higher SGA threshold accounts for these costs and gives blind workers more room to earn before benefits are affected.

To may have access to for the higher SGA amount, you must have a current medical information from Social Security that you are blind. Blindness under Social Security rules means your vision is 20/200 or worse in your better eye with correction, or your visual field is 20 degrees or less. If you have a visual impairment but do not meet this definition, you would use the standard SGA amount for non-blind workers.

How the SGA amount connects to the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access

The SGA amount is the foundation for two critical work incentives: the Trial Work Period (TWP) and Extended may be able to access Period (EEP). During your TWP, which lasts nine months, you can earn any amount without affecting your SSDI benefits. The months do not have to be consecutive. This gives you a genuine chance to test whether you can work without the fear of losing benefits when ready.

After your TWP ends, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During the EEP, if you earn above the SGA amount in any month, your benefits are suspended for that month only. You do not lose your benefits permanently; they restart the next month if your earnings drop below SGA. This structure allows you to work at varying levels without the all-or-nothing risk that existed before these incentives were created.

Many people do not know about the TWP and EEP or do not use them strategically. If you are thinking about returning to work, it is worth understanding how these periods work and when you are in them. You can ask Social Security for a written statement of your TWP and EEP dates, and you should keep that document for your records.

What happens if you earn above SGA

Earning above the SGA amount does not automatically end your SSDI. Instead, it triggers a process. Social Security will contact you and ask for information about your work. They will want to know the nature of the work, the hours you work, and whether you are doing the work yourself. They will also ask whether your medical condition has improved or whether you have returned to work because your condition has improved.

If Social Security determines that your earnings above SGA show you can perform substantial gainful work, they will conduct a medical review. This review looks at whether your impairment still meets or equals the criteria in Social Security's listing of impairments, or whether you can do any other work in the national economy given your age, education, and work history. This is a formal evaluation, and you have the right to submit medical evidence and to request a hearing if you disagree with the decision.

The key point: earning above SGA is a signal to Social Security that you may no longer be disabled. It does not prove you are not disabled, but it starts the process that could lead to benefit termination. This is why understanding the SGA amount and planning your work around it—or using work incentives to protect your benefits—matters.

How the SGA amount is calculated and when it changes

The SGA amount is set by federal law and is tied to the national average wage index. Each year, Social Security calculates a new SGA amount by taking 75 percent of the national average wage from two years prior. For example, the 2025 SGA amount was based on the 2023 national average wage. This formula means the SGA amount usually increases each year, but the increase is modest—typically between $20 and $100 per year.

Social Security announces the new SGA amount in October or November for the following year. The announcement appears on the Social Security website and in the Federal Register. If you receive SSDI, you should check for the new SGA amount each fall so you know what threshold applies to your work. The amount takes effect on January 1 of the following year.

The blind SGA amount is calculated separately and is set at a higher percentage of the national average wage. This reflects the policy decision that blind workers need more room to earn before benefits are affected. Both amounts are adjusted annually using the same process.

Planning your work with the SGA amount in mind

If you are working or thinking about working while on SSDI, the SGA amount should be part of your planning. One strategy is to keep your earnings below SGA if you want to avoid triggering a medical review. Another is to use your Trial Work Period strategically—work at higher earnings during those nine months, then adjust your work level during the Extended may be able to access Period to stay below SGA if you want to keep benefits without review.

You can also work with a benefits planning service, often called a Work Incentive Planning Project (WIPP) or Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS). These are free services funded by Social Security that help you understand how work affects your benefits. They can model different work scenarios and help you decide whether working above SGA makes sense for your situation. Many are run by disability organizations in your state.

Keep records of your earnings, work expenses, and hours worked. If Social Security asks about your work, you will need to provide this information. If you are self-employed, document your business expenses carefully, because these can be deducted from gross earnings before the SGA test is applied. The more organized your records, the easier it is to explain your work situation to Social Security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does earning above SGA one month mean my benefits stop when ready?

No. Earning above SGA triggers a review, but your benefits do not stop automatically. Social Security will contact you and ask about your work. If you are still in your Trial Work Period, your benefits continue regardless of earnings. If you are in your Extended may be able to access Period, benefits are suspended only for the month you earned above SGA, not permanently.

Can I deduct work expenses from my earnings before the SGA test is applied?

Yes, if the expenses are disability-related and necessary for you to work. Examples include the cost of a personal assistant, transportation, or adaptive equipment. You must be able to document these expenses. Self-employed workers can also deduct business expenses. Keep receipts and records to show Social Security.

What if I am blind—how do I prove it to get the higher SGA amount?

Social Security must have a current medical information that you are blind based on their definition (vision 20/200 or worse in your better eye with correction, or visual field 20 degrees or less). If you already receive SSDI as a blind worker, the higher SGA amount applies automatically. If your vision has changed, contact Social Security to update your record.

Where can I find the current SGA amount?

The current SGA amount is posted on the Social Security website at ssa.gov. Search for "substantial gainful activity" or look in the "Work" section under "Beneficiary Services." Social Security also mails notices about the new SGA amount each fall to all SSDI beneficiaries.

If I earn above SGA and my benefits stop, can I get them back?

Yes. If your benefits are suspended or terminated because of work, you can request a hearing to challenge the decision. You can also reapply for benefits if your condition worsens or if you stop working. If you are in your Extended may be able to access Period, benefits automatically restart the next month if your earnings drop below SGA.