What the 2023 SGA amount was and why it matters

The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold for 2023 was $1,470 per month for most people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This is the amount of monthly earnings Social Security uses to decide whether you are still disabled enough to keep your benefits. If you earned more than this amount in a month, Social Security could view you as no longer disabled and stop your payments.

The threshold changes every year because Social Security ties it to the national average wage index. The 2023 figure represented a $110 increase from 2022, when the SGA limit was $1,360. This annual adjustment means the amount you can earn without risking your benefits grows, but it also means you need to check the current year's threshold each time you work.

Understanding the 2023 SGA amount is important if you were working while on SSDI that year, planning to return to work, or trying to figure out whether your past earnings affected your case. The threshold applies to your gross earnings — the money before taxes and deductions — not your net pay.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2023 SGA threshold was $1,470 per month, meaning you could earn up to that amount without Social Security counting it as substantial work.
  • SGA is based on gross earnings, not take-home pay, so bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation count toward the limit.
  • If you earned over $1,470 in a single month during 2023, Social Security could begin a medical review to determine if you remained disabled.
  • The threshold changes annually, so the 2023 amount no longer applies — you must check the current year's SGA limit if you are working now.
  • Work incentives like the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access Period allow you to test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits.

How Social Security measured your 2023 earnings against SGA

Social Security looked at your gross monthly earnings, not your net income after taxes. This means if you earned $1,471 in a month during 2023 — even by one dollar — that month counted as substantial gainful activity. The agency counted all forms of compensation: hourly wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, tips, and self-employment income all went into the calculation.

The measurement was month-by-month, not annual. You could earn $2,000 in January and $500 in February and only the January earnings would trigger a review. Social Security did not average your income across the year or look at whether you made too much overall. Each month stood alone.

If you reported earnings over the SGA threshold, Social Security sent you a form asking for details about your work — how many hours you worked, what you did, whether your condition affected your ability to do the job, and whether you received any special accommodations. Your response to that form, combined with your medical records, determined whether Social Security continued your benefits or began the process to stop them.

What happened if you earned over $1,470 in 2023

Earning over the SGA threshold did not automatically end your benefits that month. Instead, it triggered what Social Security calls a medical continuing disability review. Social Security sent you a form (usually the SSA-831-F4 or a similar questionnaire) asking about your work and your condition. You had to return the form within 10 days, or Social Security would make a decision based on the information it already had.

During the review, Social Security examined whether you could still perform substantial gainful activity given your medical condition. The agency looked at whether your impairment had improved, whether you were using special accommodations or information to do the job, and whether the work was truly sustainable. If Social Security determined you were still disabled despite earning over the threshold, your benefits continued. If the agency found your condition had improved enough that you could work, your benefits stopped.

The review process typically took 30 to 90 days. During that time, you continued to receive your regular SSDI payment. If Social Security eventually decided to stop your benefits, the agency sent you a notice explaining the decision and your right to request reconsideration within 10 days of receiving the notice.

Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access Period protections in 2023

Social Security offered two work incentives that protected your benefits even if you earned over the SGA threshold during 2023. The Trial Work Period (TWP) allowed you to work and earn any amount for nine months without Social Security counting those months toward a medical review. These nine months did not have to be consecutive — you could use one month in January, another in March, and so on, as long as you used all nine within a rolling 60-month window.

After you used all nine months of your Trial Work Period, you entered the Extended may be able to access Period (EEP), which lasted 36 months. During the EEP, you could still earn over the SGA threshold without losing benefits, but only for months when you actually earned over $1,470. Any month you earned $1,470 or less, Social Security did not count it as substantial gainful activity, and your benefits continued with no review.

These protections meant that if you were actively using your work incentives in 2023, you had a genuine window to test whether you could return to full-time work. Many people used the TWP to try a job for several months, then decided whether to continue working or return to full-time benefit status. The key was reporting your earnings to Social Security each month so the agency could properly track which months counted toward your TWP and which fell within your EEP.

Self-employment income and the 2023 SGA threshold

If you were self-employed in 2023, Social Security measured your income differently than it did for wage earners. For self-employment, the agency looked at your net profit — your gross income minus legitimate business expenses — rather than your gross revenue. This meant you could have higher total earnings and still stay under the SGA threshold.

Social Security also considered whether you were working in a way that showed you were trying to work at the substantial gainful activity level. The agency looked at the hours you worked, the nature of the business, and whether you were making business decisions and managing the operation. If you were self-employed but working very few hours or mostly managing the business while someone else did the actual work, Social Security might conclude you were not engaged in substantial gainful activity even if your net profit exceeded $1,470.

Self-employed beneficiaries had to report their income to Social Security, usually through their tax returns. If you had questions about whether a particular business activity counted as substantial gainful activity, you could contact your local Social Security office or ask for a work incentives planning consultation, which was free and did not affect your benefits.

Reporting your 2023 earnings to Social Security

If you worked in 2023 while receiving SSDI, you were required to report your earnings to Social Security. You could report online through your my Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Social Security asked for your gross monthly earnings and the month in which you earned them.

You had to report earnings within the month you earned them or shortly after — waiting until tax time to report was not acceptable. Social Security used your monthly reports to determine whether you had crossed the SGA threshold and whether a medical review was needed. If you did not report earnings and Social Security discovered them later through tax records or other means, the agency could overpay you and demand repayment, even if you had not intentionally hidden the income.

Keeping records of your earnings was your responsibility. Save your pay stubs, invoices, or business records showing what you earned each month. If Social Security questions your earnings or you need to appeal a decision about whether you were engaged in substantial gainful activity, those records are your evidence.

How the 2023 SGA threshold compares to previous years

The SGA threshold has increased nearly every year since SSDI began. In 2022, it was $1,360; in 2021, it was $1,310; in 2020, it was $1,260. The 2023 threshold of $1,470 reflected a $110 jump from 2022, which was larger than some previous years but smaller than others. The size of the annual increase depends on how much the national average wage index grew that year.

For blind beneficiaries, Social Security uses a separate, higher SGA threshold. In 2023, the SGA threshold for blind SSDI recipients was $2,460 per month — substantially higher than the standard threshold. This higher limit recognizes that blind individuals may need more time and resources to develop work skills and that their work may be less stable initially.

If you are reviewing your 2023 case now — perhaps for an appeal or to understand a past decision — remember that the 2023 threshold no longer applies. Social Security uses the current year's SGA threshold to evaluate ongoing work and benefits. Check the current year's threshold on the Social Security website or by calling your local office.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earned over $1,470 in one month in 2023, did my benefits automatically stop?

No. Earning over the threshold triggered a medical review, but it did not automatically end your benefits. Social Security examined your medical condition and work situation to decide whether you remained disabled. Many people who earned over the threshold kept their benefits because Social Security found they were still unable to work consistently.

Does the Trial Work Period reset each year?

No. The Trial Work Period is a one-time benefit that lasts nine months within a rolling 60-month window. Once you used all nine months, they were gone — the clock did not reset in 2024 or any other year. However, the Extended may be able to access Period that follows the TWP lasts 36 months and offers continued protection.

What counts as gross earnings for the SGA calculation?

Gross earnings include hourly wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, tips, and self-employment net profit. They do not include Social Security benefits, SSI, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, or other non-work income. If you received a one-time payment like a severance or back pay, Social Security counted it in the month you received it, which could push you over the threshold.

Can I appeal if Social Security stopped my benefits based on 2023 earnings?

Yes. You have 10 days from the date you receive the notice to request reconsideration. You can submit new medical evidence, explain why you believe you remained disabled despite your earnings, or provide documentation showing your earnings were lower than Social Security recorded. The appeal process is free.

Where do I find the current year's SGA threshold?

Social Security publishes the current year's SGA threshold on its official website (ssa.gov) each January. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. The threshold changes annually, so always check the current year's amount before you work or report earnings.