The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550 per month

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

The limit changes every year because Social Security ties it to the national average wage index. This means the number you need to watch shifts annually, usually upward. The 2025 figure represents an increase from the 2024 limit of $1,550 — though the limit remained the same between those two years, which does not always happen.

The SGA limit applies to your work earnings only. It does not count unearned income like interest, rental income, or money from family members. It also does not count in-kind support — food or shelter someone gives you for free.

Key Takeaways

  • If you earn more than $1,550 in a single month during 2025, Social Security will count that month as evidence you can work, which can trigger a medical review of your case.
  • The SGA limit applies only to work earnings, not to savings, investments, or money you receive as gifts or support.
  • Staying under the limit does not mean your benefits are safe forever — Social Security can still review your case at any time if they believe your condition has improved.
  • Blind individuals have a separate, higher SGA limit of $2,590 per month in 2025.
  • The limit changes each January, so you should check the current year's figure before taking on new work or increasing your hours.

How Social Security uses the SGA limit to review your case

Earning above the SGA limit in any month does not automatically end your benefits that month. Instead, it signals to Social Security that you may no longer be disabled. When this happens, Social Security will send you a letter asking you to report your work activity and may schedule a medical review called a Continuing Disability Review (CDR).

During a CDR, a Social Security doctor or psychologist will examine whether your condition has improved enough that you can work. They will look at your medical records, may request new medical evidence from your doctors, and might ask you to attend a medical examination. If they find that your condition has improved and you can now do substantial gainful work, they can stop your benefits.

This review process takes time — usually several months. Your benefits continue while the review is happening, so you are not cut off when ready. However, if Social Security ultimately decides your condition has improved, they may ask you to repay benefits you received during the review period, depending on the circumstances.

What counts toward the SGA limit and what does not

Only your gross work earnings count toward the SGA limit. This includes wages from a job, net profit from self-employment, and commissions. It is calculated before taxes, Social Security deductions, or any other withholdings.

These do not count: interest or dividends from savings or investments, rental income from property, money you inherit, gifts from family or friends, food or shelter someone provides to you, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, or other government benefits. If someone pays your rent or buys your groceries, that does not count toward the limit.

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — the money left after you subtract legitimate business expenses. Keep careful records of what you spend on your business, because Social Security will ask to see them if your earnings are close to the limit.

The difference between the SGA limit and the trial work period

The SGA limit is separate from the trial work period, which is a nine-month window when you can test your ability to work without risking your benefits. During the trial work period, you can earn any amount — even well above the SGA limit — and keep your full SSDI payment.

Once your trial work period ends, the SGA limit takes over. From that point forward, exceeding the limit in any month can trigger a review. The trial work period is a one-time benefit, and you cannot use it again unless you have been off SSDI for at least 12 months.

If you are unsure whether you have already used your trial work period, contact Social Security directly. They can tell you how many trial work months you have used and when your remaining months expire.

The separate SGA limit for blind individuals

If you receive SSDI based on blindness, you have a higher SGA limit: $2,590 per month in 2025. This higher threshold recognizes that blind individuals may need more time and resources to develop work skills and find suitable employment.

The definition of blindness for SSDI purposes is specific: your vision must be 20/200 or worse in your better eye with correction, or your visual field must be 20 degrees or less. If you are unsure whether you meet this definition, Social Security's medical consultants will evaluate it during your initial review.

Planning your work around the SGA limit

If you are thinking about working while on SSDI, knowing the SGA limit helps you plan. You can work part-time, earn under $1,550 per month, and keep your benefits without triggering a review. Many people do this successfully for years.

If your job pays more than the limit, you have options. You could ask your employer for fewer hours, take a lower-paying position, or wait until your trial work period is over and you have built up more work history before increasing your earnings. Some people also use the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without it counting against your benefits — but PASS has its own rules and requires advance approval from Social Security.

Before you start a new job or increase your hours, report the change to Social Security. Tell them your expected monthly earnings. This prevents surprises later and gives Social Security a clear picture of your work activity.

What happens if you exceed the SGA limit

If you earn more than $1,550 in a month, Social Security will not cut off your benefits when ready. Instead, they will count that month as a month of substantial gainful activity. If this happens, they will contact you to gather more information about your work and your medical condition.

You will have the chance to explain your situation. If you earned above the limit for only one month due to a bonus or overtime, or if your condition has genuinely worsened and you cannot sustain that level of work, tell Social Security. They consider the whole picture, not just one high-earning month.

If you continue to earn above the limit month after month, Social Security will almost certainly schedule a CDR. At that point, the focus shifts from your earnings to your medical condition: can you still do substantial gainful work, or has your condition improved? Your doctors' reports and medical records become the deciding factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the SGA limit explore to my spouse's income?

No. The SGA limit applies only to your own work earnings. Your spouse's income, savings, or other resources do not count toward your SGA limit and do not affect your SSDI benefits.

What if I earn exactly $1,550 in a month?

Earning exactly at the limit does not trigger a review. Social Security only acts when you exceed the limit — meaning you earn $1,551 or more. If you are close to the limit, ask your employer to keep your monthly earnings at or below $1,550.

Can the SGA limit change mid-year?

No. The SGA limit is set each January and stays the same for the entire calendar year. The 2025 limit of $1,550 applies from January 1 through December 31, 2025. The 2026 limit will be announced in late 2025.

If I stop working, will my benefits restart automatically?

Not automatically. If your benefits were stopped due to work activity, you will need to contact Social Security to report that you are no longer working. They can then restart your benefits, though there may be a waiting period depending on how long you were off the rolls.

Does the SGA limit count tips or bonuses?

Yes. Tips and bonuses are part of your gross work earnings and count toward the SGA limit. If you receive a large bonus in one month, that month's total earnings may exceed the limit and trigger a review.