The 2025 SGA amount is $1,550 per month

The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount for 2025 is $1,550 per month. 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 $1,550 in a month, Social Security will assume you are capable of substantial work, which affects your SSDI benefits.

The SGA amount changes every year because Social Security ties it to the national average wage. In 2024, the SGA amount was $1,550 as well. The amount typically increases by a small percentage each year, though the exact increase depends on wage data from the prior year.

This threshold applies to most SSDI recipients. There are separate, lower SGA amounts for people who are blind — $2,590 per month in 2025 — but the standard $1,550 figure is what affects the majority of beneficiaries who work or are thinking about returning to work.

Key Takeaways

  • If you earn more than $1,550 in a single month, Social Security will review whether your work is substantial and may suspend your benefits for that month.
  • The SGA amount increases each year, so the threshold you need to watch changes annually — check Social Security's website each January for the current year's figure.
  • Earnings above the SGA amount do not automatically end your benefits, but they trigger a review of your work capacity.
  • If you are blind, the SGA threshold is higher at $2,590 per month, giving you more room to earn before a review occurs.

How Social Security uses the SGA amount to review your case

When you report earnings above $1,550 in a month, Social Security does not when ready stop your benefits. Instead, it treats that month as a signal that you may be working at a substantial level. The agency then looks at the nature of your work, how many hours you are working, and the skills required to do the job.

If Social Security concludes that your work is substantial — meaning it is the kind of work a non-disabled person would do for pay — your benefits will be suspended for that month. You will not receive a check for any month in which you earn over the SGA amount and Social Security determines your work is substantial.

This is different from the trial work period, which is a separate program that lets you test your work capacity without losing benefits. During the trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check. Once the trial work period ends, the SGA amount becomes the threshold that matters.

What counts as earnings under the SGA rule

Social Security counts wages from employment as earnings. This includes salary, hourly pay, bonuses, and commissions. If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — the money left after business expenses — as earnings.

Some types of income do not count toward the SGA limit. Unearned income like Social Security benefits themselves, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), interest, dividends, rental income, and gifts do not affect the SGA calculation. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) — costs you pay to work because of your disability — are subtracted from your earnings before Social Security compares your income to the SGA amount.

If you receive a paycheck but do not actually work in a particular month — for example, you take unpaid leave but your employer pays you anyway — Social Security may or may not count that as earnings depending on the circumstances. Report the actual situation to your local Social Security office so they can make the correct information.

The difference between SGA and the trial work period

The trial work period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI benefit. You do not have to use the nine months consecutively — they can be spread across a rolling 60-month period. During the trial work period, the SGA amount does not explore to you at all.

Once your trial work period ends, the SGA amount becomes the rule. If you earn more than $1,550 in a month after the trial work period, your benefits will be suspended for that month if Social Security determines your work is substantial.

After your benefits are suspended for nine months (not necessarily consecutive), you enter the extended may be able to access period. During this period, which lasts 36 months, you can still receive benefits for any month you earn $1,550 or less, even if you earned more in other months. This gives you a second window to test whether you can work consistently without losing all your benefits.

How to report earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your earnings to Social Security. The best way to do this is through your online Social Security account at ssa.gov. You can log in, go to your benefits section, and report your monthly earnings directly.

If you do not have an online account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to a representative. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person. Have your most recent pay stubs available when you report, as Social Security may ask for details about your income.

Report your earnings as soon as you know what they will be for the month. Do not wait until the end of the month or until you receive your pay stub. The sooner Social Security has the information, the sooner they can determine whether your benefits will be affected and notify you of any changes.

What happens if you earn over $1,550 in a month

If you earn more than $1,550 in a month and report it to Social Security, the agency will review your work to determine whether it is substantial. This review can take a few weeks. During that time, you will continue to receive your regular SSDI check.

If Social Security decides your work is substantial, you will receive a notice explaining the decision. Your benefits will be suspended for that month only — you will not receive a check for that specific month, but your benefits will resume the following month if your earnings drop back to $1,550 or less.

If you disagree with Social Security's decision that your work is substantial, you have the right to request reconsideration. This is a free process. You will need to explain why you believe your work does not meet the definition of substantial work and provide documentation of your job duties, hours, and earnings. Send your request to your local Social Security office within 60 days of the notice.

Planning your work around the SGA amount

If you are working or thinking about returning to work, you can structure your earnings to stay under $1,550 per month. This might mean working part-time, taking unpaid leave in some months, or negotiating flexible hours with your employer. Some people work more hours in certain months and fewer in others to keep their average below the threshold.

Keep in mind that the SGA amount is a monthly figure, not an annual one. You could earn $3,000 in January and $500 in February and only face a potential benefits suspension for January. Social Security does not average your earnings across the year.

If you are self-employed, you have more control over when you recognize income. Talk to a tax professional or an SSDI work incentive counselor about timing your business income to stay under the SGA threshold if that is your goal. Some people use the trial work period strategically to test whether they can work full-time before committing to a job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does earning over $1,550 automatically stop my SSDI?

No. Earning over $1,550 triggers a review, but Social Security must determine that your work is substantial before your benefits are suspended. If the work is part-time, unskilled, or does not match the demands of typical employment, your benefits may not be affected even if you earn above the threshold.

What if I earn $1,600 one month and $1,400 the next?

Social Security looks at each month separately. If you earn $1,600 in month one, that month is reviewed for substantial work. If you earn $1,400 in month two, that month is under the threshold and is not reviewed. You do not average your earnings across months.

Can I use the trial work period more than once?

No. You have one nine-month trial work period during your lifetime as an SSDI beneficiary. Once those nine months are used, you cannot get another trial work period. After the trial work period ends, the SGA amount applies to all future work.

Do I have to report earnings if I stay under $1,550?

Yes. You are required to report all earnings to Social Security, even if you stay under the SGA amount. Reporting helps Social Security track your work and ensures your benefits are calculated correctly. Failing to report earnings can result in an overpayment that you will be asked to repay.

What if my employer pays me for a month I did not work?

Contact your local Social Security office and explain the situation. Social Security will determine whether that payment counts as earnings based on whether you actually performed work in that month. Bring documentation from your employer showing the dates you worked and the dates you were paid.