The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550 per month

If you receive SSDI and work, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit is the monthly earnings threshold Social Security uses to decide whether you are still disabled. For 2025, that limit is $1,550 per month for most people receiving SSDI. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security will assume you are performing substantial gainful activity and may stop your benefits.

The limit changes each year because Social Security ties it to the national average wage index. The 2025 figure represents a $50 increase from the 2024 limit of $1,500. This is not a benefit increase — it is the threshold that determines whether your work activity counts as substantial.

The SGA limit applies to your gross earnings, meaning the amount before taxes or deductions. It does not matter whether you work for yourself or for an employer. It does not matter whether you work full-time or part-time. What matters is whether your monthly earnings cross the $1,550 line.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550 per month, a $50 increase from 2024, and applies to gross earnings before taxes.
  • If you earn more than $1,550 in a single month, Social Security will consider you engaged in substantial gainful activity and may stop your benefits.
  • The limit applies differently to self-employed individuals, who must also meet a net earnings test and a work-hours test.
  • Earnings during your trial work period do not count toward the SGA limit, even if they exceed $1,550.
  • Social Security reviews your work history each month and can restart your benefits if your earnings drop back below the limit.

How Social Security applies the SGA limit to your work

Social Security checks your earnings every month. If you earn $1,550 or less in a calendar month, that month does not count as a month of substantial gainful activity, and your SSDI payment continues. If you earn more than $1,550 in a single month, Social Security treats that month as a month of SGA.

One month over the limit does not when ready stop your benefits. Instead, Social Security looks at your work pattern over time. If you have nine or more months of SGA earnings in a rolling 60-month period, your benefits will end. The agency sends you a notice before this happens, but the process is automatic once the threshold is crossed.

The earnings test is straightforward for people who work for an employer and receive a regular paycheck. You add up your gross pay for the month — before federal withholding, FICA, or any other deduction — and compare it to $1,550. If you receive a bonus or back pay in a single month, that counts toward that month's total.

SGA limits for self-employed work

If you are self-employed, the SGA limit is more complex. You must meet three separate tests: the $1,550 monthly earnings test, a net earnings test, and a work-hours test.

For the monthly test, you count your gross revenue minus ordinary business expenses. This is different from what you report to the IRS. Social Security has specific rules about which expenses count. For example, you can deduct the cost of materials, supplies, and rent for workspace, but not depreciation or loan payments.

The net earnings test requires that your average monthly net earnings over a three-month period do not exceed $1,550. The work-hours test requires that you work at least 45 hours per month in your business, or 20 hours per month if your business is substantial and complex. If you fail any of these three tests, Social Security will find you engaged in SGA.

Trial work period and SGA

The trial work period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount without triggering the SGA limit. During these nine months, Social Security does not count your earnings toward the SGA threshold, no matter how much you make. This period is designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only months in which you earn more than $240 (the 2025 trial work period threshold). Once you have used nine trial work months, the SGA limit applies to all future work.

After your trial work period ends, you enter the extended period of may be able to access, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you can still receive a benefit check in any month your earnings fall below $1,550, even if you had months of SGA earlier. Once the 36-month period ends, the nine-month SGA rule applies.

What happens if you earn over the SGA limit

If you earn more than $1,550 in a month, Social Security will not when ready stop your check for that month. Instead, the agency records it as a month of SGA and continues to monitor your work pattern. Your benefits continue until you reach nine months of SGA earnings in a rolling 60-month period.

When you reach nine SGA months, Social Security sends you a notice explaining that your benefits will end. The notice includes the effective date of the termination, which is usually the first day of the month after you reach nine SGA months. You have the right to request reconsideration if you believe the agency made an error in counting your earnings.

If your earnings drop back below $1,550 before you reach nine SGA months, the clock does not reset. Social Security continues to count the months you have already had. However, if you stop working or your earnings stay below $1,550 for a full 60 months, the old SGA months fall out of the rolling window and no longer count.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security. The agency does not automatically know how much you earn. You can report earnings by phone, mail, or through your online Social Security account. Social Security recommends reporting within 30 days of the end of the month in which you earned the money.

If you do not report earnings and Social Security later discovers you were working, the agency can overpay you and demand repayment. You can also face a penalty. It is better to report even if you are unsure whether your earnings will trigger SGA.

Keep records of your pay stubs, invoices, and business expenses. If you are self-employed, keep a log of your work hours and a record of all income and deductible expenses. These documents help you and Social Security verify your earnings if there is ever a question.

Planning your work around the SGA limit

Some people structure their work to stay below $1,550 per month. This is a legitimate strategy if you want to keep your SSDI benefits while working. For example, you might work part-time, take unpaid leave in high-earning months, or negotiate a lower hourly rate in exchange for flexible scheduling.

Others use the trial work period strategically. If you know you want to return to full-time work, you can use your nine trial work months to test your capacity and build work history without losing benefits. Once the trial period ends and the extended period of may be able to access begins, you have 36 more months to earn above the SGA limit in some months while still receiving checks in other months.

Talk to a work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project counselor before making major work decisions. These counselors are funded by Social Security and provide free guidance on how work affects your benefits. You can find a WIPA project near you through the Social Security website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the SGA limit include tips, bonuses, or irregular income?

Yes. All gross income counts toward the SGA limit, including tips, bonuses, back pay, and irregular earnings. If you receive a large bonus in one month, that entire amount counts toward that month's earnings total. If it pushes you over $1,550, that month counts as a month of SGA.

What if I work for multiple employers?

Add up the gross earnings from all jobs in the same month. If your combined earnings exceed $1,550, that month counts as SGA. Social Security does not care how many employers you have or how you split your time among them.

Does the SGA limit explore to unemployment benefits or workers' compensation?

No. Unemployment benefits and workers' compensation do not count as earnings for SGA purposes. However, other forms of income, such as rental income or royalties, may count depending on the circumstances. Ask Social Security if you are unsure about a specific type of income.

Can I work during my trial work period without losing benefits?

Yes. During your nine-month trial work period, you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI check. The only requirement is that you report your earnings to Social Security. Once the trial period ends, the $1,550 SGA limit applies.

What if Social Security made an error counting my SGA months?

You can request reconsideration within 60 days of receiving the notice that your benefits will end. Bring your pay stubs, tax returns, or other earnings records to show the correct amount you earned in each month. If Social Security agrees it made an error, your benefits may be restored.