What the 2023 SGA figure was and who it affected

In 2023, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount for non-blind workers was $1,470 per month. For blind workers, it was $3,822 per month. These figures matter because if you earned more than the SGA amount in a single month, Social Security could find you no longer disabled and stop your SSDI payments, even if you had been approved years earlier.

The SGA amount changes every year on January 1st based on a formula tied to national wage data. The 2023 figures applied to any work you did from January 1 through December 31, 2023. If you were working while receiving SSDI, you needed to track your monthly earnings against these specific numbers.

SGA is not the same as the earnings limit during the trial work period or the extended period of may be able to access. Those have different rules and different dollar amounts. SGA is the threshold that determines whether Social Security considers you to be working at a substantial level — the point at which they may decide your condition has improved enough that you no longer meet the definition of disability.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2023 SGA amount was $1,470 per month for non-blind workers and $3,822 per month for blind workers.
  • Exceeding SGA in a single month does not automatically stop your benefits when ready, but it can trigger a medical review or work incentive evaluation.
  • SGA applies only to work you perform yourself; it does not include unearned income like interest, dividends, or rental payments.
  • If you were in a trial work period or extended period of may be able to access, different earnings rules applied instead of the standard SGA threshold.
  • The SGA amount increases each January, so the 2023 figure no longer applies to current work — you must check the current year's amount.

How Social Security used the 2023 SGA amount to review your case

Social Security did not automatically stop your SSDI the moment you earned $1,471 in a month. Instead, exceeding SGA triggered a process. If you reported earnings above the SGA amount, Social Security would typically send you a form asking for details about your work — the type of job, the hours, whether you were self-employed, and the nature of your duties.

Based on your response, a Social Security work incentive specialist or medical reviewer would assess whether your work was truly substantial. They looked at factors beyond just the dollar amount: whether you were working full-time or part-time, whether the work required skills related to your disability, and whether your condition had actually improved. A single month over SGA did not automatically mean your case was closed.

However, if you consistently earned above SGA over several months, or if your work showed that your medical condition had improved significantly, Social Security could schedule a continuing disability review (CDR). During a CDR, they would request updated medical evidence and could ultimately decide that you were no longer disabled. That decision would come in writing, and you would have the right to appeal.

Work incentives that let you earn above SGA without losing SSDI

Social Security built in protections for people who wanted to test their ability to work. The trial work period (TWP) allowed you to earn any amount in nine months (not necessarily consecutive) without affecting your SSDI payment. During the TWP, you kept your full benefit check regardless of how much you earned.

After the trial work period ended, you entered the extended period of may be able to access (EPE), which lasted 36 months. During the EPE, you could earn up to a different threshold — in 2023, that was $2,370 per month for non-blind workers — without losing your benefit. If you earned above that amount in a month, you lost your benefit for that month only, but you could regain it the next month if your earnings dropped below the threshold.

These work incentives existed specifically so you could work and test whether you could sustain employment without when ready losing your safety net. If you were working in 2023 and had not yet used your trial work period, reporting your work to Social Security was important because it started the clock on these protections.

Self-employment and SGA in 2023

If you were self-employed in 2023, the SGA calculation worked differently than it did for wage earners. Social Security looked at your net profit — the money left after business expenses — rather than gross revenue. They also examined whether your work was substantial by looking at the hours you worked, the effort you put in, and the kind of business you ran.

For self-employed people, exceeding the $1,470 SGA amount was one factor, but not the only one. Social Security could find that you were performing substantial work even if your net profit was below SGA, depending on the nature of your business and the time you invested. Conversely, they could find that work above the SGA threshold was not substantial if you were working very few hours or if the work was clearly inconsistent with your reported disability.

If you were self-employed and earning in 2023, keeping detailed records of your hours, expenses, and the type of work you performed was essential. These records helped Social Security understand the true nature and scope of your work when they reviewed your case.

Reporting your 2023 earnings to Social Security

You were required to report work and earnings to Social Security within 30 days of the month in which they occurred. This meant if you worked in January 2023, you needed to report by the end of February. Failing to report earnings did not make them disappear — Social Security could discover unreported work through tax records, wage reports, or other sources, and the failure to report could result in an overpayment that you would have to repay.

You could report earnings by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. When you reported, you provided the month, the amount earned, and details about the work. If you were unsure whether to report something — for example, a one-time payment or a bonus — it was safer to report it and let Social Security determine whether it counted as earnings.

If you received an overpayment notice because of unreported or underreported earnings from 2023, you had the right to request a waiver or to appeal the overpayment information. Social Security could waive overpayments in some cases if you were not at fault for the error or if repaying would cause you hardship.

What happened if your 2023 earnings triggered a review

If your earnings in 2023 exceeded SGA and Social Security opened a review, you would receive a letter explaining what they were doing and what information they needed. They typically asked for pay stubs, a statement from your employer, or tax documents. You had a important date — usually 10 days — to respond.

During the review, Social Security might also request an updated medical report from your doctor. They wanted to know whether your condition had changed, whether you were still experiencing the symptoms that made you disabled, and whether your doctor thought you could continue working. This was not a may provide that your benefits would stop; it was an investigation into whether you still met the definition of disability.

If Social Security decided to stop your benefits based on work activity, they would send you a written notice explaining the decision and your right to appeal. You had 60 days from the date of that notice to file an appeal. During the appeal process, you could continue to receive your benefit while your case was being reviewed — this is called "payment pending appeal."

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earned $1,500 in one month in 2023, did my benefits stop automatically?

No. Exceeding SGA in a single month triggered a review, but it did not automatically end your benefits. Social Security would contact you to gather information about your work and assess whether you were performing substantial work. Your benefits could continue while they investigated.

Does the 2023 SGA amount still explore to my current work?

No. The SGA amount changes every January. The 2023 figure of $1,470 applied only to work performed in 2023. If you are working now, you need to check the current year's SGA amount on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

What counts as earnings for SGA purposes?

Wages from a job and net profit from self-employment count. Interest, dividends, rental income, and benefits from other programs do not count as earnings for SGA. Only money you earned through your own work activity is measured against the SGA threshold.

Can I work part-time and stay under SGA?

Yes, if your monthly earnings stay below $1,470 (in 2023). However, Social Security also looks at whether your work is substantial based on factors beyond pay — the hours, the effort, and the type of work. Part-time work that keeps you under the dollar threshold is generally safer, but it is not a may provide.

What is the difference between SGA and the trial work period earnings limit?

During the trial work period, there was no earnings limit — you could earn any amount and keep your full benefit. SGA is the threshold that applies after the trial work period ends. The extended period of may be able to access had its own higher earnings limit ($2,370 in 2023), which was different from both SGA and the trial work period.