What Income Limits Applied to SSDI in 2023

SSDI does not have a single income limit that stops you from receiving benefits. Instead, the program uses Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) — a monthly earnings threshold — to decide whether you are working enough to be considered not disabled. In 2023, that threshold was $1,470 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,460 per month for blind beneficiaries.

If you earned more than these amounts in a month, Social Security would review whether your work was substantial and gainful. Earning less than the SGA amount does not automatically protect your benefits, but it creates a strong presumption that you are not working at a level that would end your case. The key word is earned income — money you make from work. Unearned income like interest, pensions, or rental payments does not count toward SGA.

These thresholds change each year. Social Security announces the new SGA amount in December for the following year, based on changes to the national average wage index. The 2023 figures applied from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2023 SGA threshold was $1,470 per month for non-blind beneficiaries; earning more than this amount triggered a work review, but did not automatically end benefits.
  • Blind beneficiaries had a higher 2023 threshold of $2,460 per month because blindness creates additional work-related expenses.
  • Only earned income from work counts toward SGA; unearned income like interest, pensions, or rental payments does not affect your threshold.
  • Social Security announces new SGA amounts each December for the following year, so the 2024 threshold differs from 2023.
  • Exceeding SGA in one month does not when ready stop benefits; Social Security must determine whether your work is substantial and gainful before making a change.

How SGA Thresholds Worked in 2023

The $1,470 and $2,460 figures were the monthly earnings amounts Social Security used to screen your work activity. If you reported earnings above your threshold in any month, Social Security would send you a form asking for details about your work — hours per week, type of job, whether you were self-employed, and whether the work was ongoing or temporary.

Social Security then evaluated whether your work was substantial (you were working enough hours and earning enough money to show real work effort) and gainful (the work was intended to produce income and was the kind of work non-disabled people do). A single month over the threshold did not end your case. You could work above SGA for a month or two and still keep benefits if Social Security determined the work was not truly substantial and gainful — for example, if you had a one-time project or were filling in temporarily.

The SGA threshold existed to separate people who were testing their ability to work from people who had returned to work at a level that meant they were no longer disabled. Someone earning $1,400 per month was presumed to be testing work; someone earning $3,000 per month was presumed to be working.

Blind Beneficiaries and the Higher 2023 Threshold

Blind beneficiaries had a separate, higher SGA threshold of $2,460 per month in 2023. This higher amount reflected the fact that blind workers often face additional costs — transportation, readers, specialized equipment — that non-blind workers do not. The higher threshold gave blind beneficiaries more room to earn before triggering a work review.

To may have access to for the blind SGA threshold, you had to be receiving SSDI based on blindness. If you were receiving SSDI for a different disability and later became blind, you could request that Social Security explore the blind threshold going forward. The request had to be made in writing to your local Social Security office.

What Counted and Did Not Count as Earned Income

Only money you earned from work counted toward SGA. This included wages from a job, net income from self-employment, and payments for work you performed. Bonuses, commissions, and tips counted. Overtime and shift differentials counted.

These did not count: interest from savings accounts, dividends from stocks, rental income, pension payments, annuities, Social Security benefits themselves, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, gifts, inheritances, or money borrowed. If you received a lump-sum payment for work you had already done — for example, a final paycheck after leaving a job — it counted in the month you received it, not the month you earned it.

If you were self-employed, Social Security counted your net profit (revenue minus business expenses), not your gross revenue. You had to report business expenses with documentation — receipts, invoices, or tax records — to reduce your countable income.

Trial Work Period and Extended Earnings Rules

SSDI included a Trial Work Period (TWP) that allowed you to test your work ability without when ready losing benefits. During the TWP, you could earn any amount and keep your full SSDI benefit. The TWP lasted nine months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month window.

After the TWP ended, you entered the Extended may be able to access Period (EEP), which lasted 36 months. During the EEP, if you earned more than SGA in any month, you lost your benefit for that month only — you did not lose the entire case. Once your earnings dropped below SGA again, your benefits restarted the following month.

These protections meant that even if you exceeded the 2023 SGA threshold, you had structured time to work and test your ability without an when ready end to your case. The TWP and EEP were separate from the SGA threshold itself; they were safety nets that gave you room to work.

How 2023 SGA Compared to Other Years

The 2023 SGA threshold of $1,470 was higher than 2022 ($1,350) and lower than 2024 ($1,550). Social Security adjusts SGA annually based on wage growth. In years when wages grew faster, the SGA threshold rose more steeply. In slower wage years, the increase was smaller.

This meant that if you were working in 2023 and your earnings stayed the same into 2024, you might have crossed the new threshold even though your actual pay did not change. Conversely, if you were earning just above $1,470 in 2023, the 2024 threshold increase might have pushed you further over the limit. Social Security sent notices in December each year announcing the new threshold so you could plan ahead.

Reporting Your Work and Earnings to Social Security

You were required to report work and earnings to Social Security within 30 days of starting work or within 30 days of a change in your earnings. You could report by phone, in person at your local office, or online through your my Social Security account. Failing to report did not erase the earnings — Social Security would discover them through tax records or wage reports — but it could delay your case review and create confusion about your benefits.

When you reported, Social Security would ask for your employer's name and contact information, the type of work, your hours per week, and your monthly or weekly pay. If you were self-employed, you would need to provide information about your business, expenses, and net income. Keep pay stubs, invoices, or tax records to support what you report.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earned $1,500 in one month in 2023, did I automatically lose my SSDI?

No. Earning above the $1,470 threshold triggered a work review, but did not automatically end your benefits. Social Security had to determine whether your work was substantial and gainful. If the earnings were temporary or part-time, your case might have continued. You would receive a form asking for details about your work.

Does my spouse's income count toward my SSDI income limit?

No. SSDI is based on your own work record and earnings. Your spouse's income does not affect your SSDI benefits. However, if your spouse receives benefits on your record as a family member, their earnings could affect their own benefit amount.

What if I earned $2,000 per month but worked only 10 hours per week?

Social Security would still review your case because you exceeded SGA. However, working only 10 hours per week might not be considered substantial work effort. Social Security would look at the total picture — hours, earnings, type of work, and whether the work was ongoing — before deciding whether your work was substantial and gainful.

Do I need to report money I received as a gift or inheritance?

No. Gifts and inheritances are not earned income and do not count toward SGA. You do not need to report them to Social Security for purposes of your SSDI case. However, if the amount is large, it might affect other benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has asset limits.

When did Social Security announce the 2024 SGA threshold?

Social Security announced the 2024 SGA threshold in December 2023. The 2024 threshold was $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 for blind beneficiaries. You can find current SGA amounts on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.