The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers

If you receive SSDI, the Social Security Administration uses the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit to decide whether you can work and still collect your benefit. In 2025, that limit is $1,550 per month for most disabled workers. If you are blind, your SGA limit is $2,590 per month. These are the monthly earnings thresholds SSA uses to determine whether your work counts as substantial gainful activity — the legal term for work that is "significant" enough to end your disability status.

The limit changes every year because SSA ties it to the national average wage index. It went up from $1,470 in 2024 to $1,550 in 2025 — an increase of $80 per month. The blind worker limit rose from $2,460 to $2,590. These increases happen automatically each January and are published in the Federal Register.

The SGA limit is not the same as your benefit amount. You can earn up to the SGA limit and still receive your full SSDI check. Once you cross the limit, SSA begins a nine-month trial work period and then a 36-month extended may be able to access window. Understanding how these phases work is essential if you are thinking about returning to work.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA limit of $1,550 per month applies to most SSDI beneficiaries; blind workers have a separate limit of $2,590.
  • Earning below the SGA limit does not reduce your SSDI check, and you can work multiple part-time jobs as long as your total monthly earnings stay under the threshold.
  • The SGA limit increases each January based on the national average wage index, so you should check SSA's website each year for the new amount.
  • Crossing the SGA limit triggers a nine-month trial work period, after which SSA will review your case to determine whether your disability continues.
  • Self-employment income counts toward the SGA limit, and SSA uses a different calculation method for self-employed workers that focuses on net profit and hours worked.

How SSA counts your earnings against the SGA limit

SSA counts gross monthly earnings — the money you receive before taxes, not what you take home. If you work for an employer, SSA looks at your pay stub. If you are self-employed, the calculation is more complex and involves both your net profit and the number of hours you work each month.

The earnings count in the month you receive them, not the month you work. If your employer pays you on the 15th and the last day of each month, SSA counts both payments in the month you receive them. This matters if you receive a bonus or a large check in a single month — that month's total earnings might cross the SGA limit even if your average monthly earnings are below it.

Some types of income do not count toward the SGA limit. Unearned income — such as interest, dividends, rental income, or money from family members — does not affect your SGA calculation. However, unearned income can reduce your SSDI benefit under a different rule called the "substantial income" test, so it is not irrelevant to your case.

Self-employment and the SGA limit

If you are self-employed, SSA does not straightforward add up your monthly revenue. Instead, SSA uses a two-part test: your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) and the number of hours you work in the business each month.

For self-employment, SSA presumes you are doing substantial gainful activity if your net profit averages $1,550 per month (in 2025) and you work more than 45 hours per month in the business. If your net profit is below $1,550 but you work more than 45 hours, SSA may still find SGA depending on the nature of your work and whether the hours and profit together suggest you are working at a substantial level. If your net profit is above $1,550 but you work 45 hours or fewer, SSA may find SGA based on the profit alone.

Keep records of your hours and expenses. SSA will ask for tax returns, business records, and a description of your work duties. If you use a bookkeeper or accountant, ask them to provide a monthly breakdown of net profit so you can track whether you are approaching the SGA threshold.

What happens when you cross the SGA limit

Crossing the SGA limit does not when ready stop your SSDI check. Instead, you enter a nine-month trial work period (TWP). During the TWP, you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI benefit. SSA counts any month in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2025) as a trial work month; months below that threshold do not count toward the nine months.

After you complete nine trial work months, you enter the 36-month extended may be able to access period. During this window, you can still receive SSDI in any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit. Once you have used up the extended may be able to access period or your earnings stay above SGA for 36 consecutive months, your SSDI ends.

The trial work period and extended may be able to access period are designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing your safety net. Many people use this time to gradually increase their work hours or test whether they can sustain employment long-term. If you find you cannot work at a substantial level, you can stop working and your SSDI will continue.

How the SGA limit interacts with Medicare and Medicaid

Your SSDI benefit and your Medicare coverage are separate from the SGA limit. You keep Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) for as long as you receive SSDI, even after you cross the SGA limit and enter the trial work period. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) continues as well, though you pay the standard premium.

Medicaid is tied to your SSDI status in most states. If your SSDI ends because you earned too much, your Medicaid may end too — though many states have work incentive programs that let you keep Medicaid for a period after your SSDI stops. The rules vary by state, so contact your state Medicaid office or your local SSDI work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project to learn what you can keep.

Some states offer the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a work goal without it affecting your SSDI or Medicaid. A PASS can be useful if you are earning above the SGA limit but want to keep your benefits while you save for education, equipment, or a business start-up.

Work incentives that reduce the impact of the SGA limit

SSA offers several work incentives designed to help you keep benefits while you work. The Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) lets students under age 22 exclude up to $2,170 per month (in 2025) in earned income when SSA calculates whether you have crossed the SGA limit. This means a student can earn $2,170 plus the SGA limit and still be considered below SGA for benefit purposes.

The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction lets you subtract the cost of items or services you need because of your disability in order to work. If you pay for a personal assistant, specialized transportation, medication, or medical equipment needed for work, you can deduct those costs from your earnings before SSA compares your income to the SGA limit. You must document these expenses and show they are directly related to your ability to work.

The Blind Work Expenses (BWE) deduction is similar to IRWE but applies only to blind workers and covers a broader range of expenses. A WIPA project or your local SSA office can help you set up these deductions and track your expenses month to month.

Checking the SGA limit each year and planning ahead

SSA publishes the new SGA limit in December for the year ahead. You can find it on SSA's website under "Earnings Test and SGA" or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Do not rely on old information — the limit changes every year, and using last year's number could lead you to miscalculate your earnings.

If you are working or planning to work, review your expected monthly earnings against the current SGA limit. If you are close to the threshold, consider whether you want to stay below it to keep your full benefit, or whether crossing it and using your trial work period makes sense for your long-term work goals. Some people choose to stay below SGA indefinitely; others use the trial work period to test whether they can sustain employment.

Contact a WIPA project in your state — these are free, confidential counseling services run by disability organizations under a grant from SSA. A work incentives counselor can help you understand how your specific work situation interacts with the SGA limit, trial work period, and other work incentives. You can find your local WIPA project at askjan.org or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time jobs and add up the earnings to see if I cross the SGA limit?

Yes. SSA adds all your earned income from all sources in a month. If you work two part-time jobs and earn $800 from one and $900 from the other, SSA counts $1,700 total for that month. As long as your combined monthly earnings stay below $1,550 (in 2025), you remain below the SGA limit.

Does the SGA limit explore if I receive SSI instead of SSDI?

No. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) uses a different earnings rule. SSI allows you to exclude the first $65 of monthly earnings plus half of the remainder. The SGA limit applies only to SSDI beneficiaries and to SSI recipients who are blind or over age 65.

What if I earn above the SGA limit for just one month?

That one month counts as a trial work month. If you earn $1,550 or more in a single month, SSA counts it toward your nine-month trial work period. You can have up to nine months above SGA before the trial work period ends and the extended may be able to access period begins.

Can I appeal if SSA says I crossed the SGA limit and my benefit ended?

Yes. You can request reconsideration within 60 days of the notice. If you believe SSA miscalculated your earnings, did not properly account for work incentives like IRWE, or made an error in counting trial work months, you can ask for a review. Contact your local SSA office or a disability advocate for help with the appeal.

Does the SGA limit change if I move to a different state?

No. The SGA limit is federal and the same in all states. However, state Medicaid rules and work incentive programs vary, so moving may affect what benefits you can keep after your SSDI ends.