The 2024 SGA threshold is $1,550 per month in countable earnings

If you receive SSDI, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold for 2024 is $1,550 monthly. This means if you earn more than $1,550 in a calendar month, Social Security will assume you are working at a substantial level and may suspend your benefits that month. The threshold changes each year based on national wage data, so the amount you can earn without triggering a review shifts annually.

The $1,550 figure applies to most SSDI beneficiaries. There is a separate, lower threshold for people who are blind—$2,590 monthly in 2024—but the rules for what counts as work are the same. The key word is countable earnings: not all money you receive counts toward this limit.

Key Takeaways

  • Earning more than $1,550 in a single calendar month in 2024 triggers a work review, even if you earn less in other months.
  • Countable earnings include wages, net self-employment income, and certain other payments, but exclude impairment-related work expenses, plans to achieve self-support deductions, and some other specific costs.
  • Social Security looks at the month you earn the money, not the month you receive it, so timing of payment matters.
  • Exceeding SGA once does not automatically end your benefits; Social Security reviews your work history and may continue benefits if the high month is an exception.
  • The SGA threshold increases each January based on the national average wage index from two years prior.

What earnings count toward the $1,550 limit

Countable earnings include your gross wages from an employer, minus taxes and other mandatory deductions. If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit—total revenue minus ordinary business expenses—not your gross income. Bonuses, commissions, and tips all count as wages in the month you earn them, regardless of when you receive the payment.

Some payments do not count. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)—costs you pay to work because of your disability, such as special transportation, medical devices, or attendant care—are subtracted from your gross earnings before Social Security calculates whether you hit the SGA threshold. If you have a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), certain income set aside under that plan also does not count. Royalties, rental income, investment returns, and benefits from other programs (such as unemployment or workers' compensation) do not count as earnings under SGA rules.

The month you earn the money is what matters, not the month you receive it. If your employer pays you in January for work done in December, Social Security counts it in January. This distinction matters most for people paid on irregular schedules or who receive bonuses.

How Social Security reviews work activity above $1,550

Exceeding $1,550 in a single month does not automatically stop your benefits. Social Security first looks at whether the high earnings are part of a pattern. If you earn $2,000 one month but average $800 across the other eleven months, Social Security may view that spike as temporary and continue your benefits. If your earnings consistently exceed $1,550, Social Security will likely find you are performing SGA and suspend your benefits.

Social Security also considers whether you are working full-time or part-time, the nature of the work, and how long you have been working. A person who works one high-paying month and then stops is treated differently from someone who works steadily above the threshold. You do not have to report every month yourself—Social Security receives wage reports from the Social Security Administration's records and from your employer's tax filings—but you should report significant changes in your work status to avoid overpayments.

The trial work period and extended may be able to access

SSDI includes a Trial Work Period (TWP) that lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits. During the TWP, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment. The TWP lasts nine months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month window. Once you use nine trial work months, the TWP ends, and the SGA threshold applies to all future work.

After the TWP ends, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period (EEP), which lasts 36 months. During the EEP, if you earn over $1,550 in a month, your benefits stop for that month only—you do not lose SSDI permanently. Once your earnings drop below $1,550, your benefits restart the following month without a new process. This safety net gives you time to test whether you can sustain work before SSDI ends completely.

Why the threshold changes each year

Social Security adjusts the SGA threshold annually to reflect changes in the national average wage. The adjustment uses wage data from two years prior: the 2024 threshold ($1,550) was based on 2022 wage data. The new threshold takes effect each January 1st. In recent years, the threshold has increased by $50 to $100 annually, though the exact amount depends on wage growth that year.

This annual adjustment means you need to check the current year's threshold if you are working or planning to work. Social Security publishes the new threshold in November of the prior year, giving you time to plan. If you are close to the threshold, even a small increase can affect your planning.

Work incentives that reduce countable earnings

Social Security offers several work incentives designed to help SSDI beneficiaries return to work without when ready losing benefits. The most common is the Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction. If you pay for transportation, medical equipment, or personal information specifically because of your disability, you can subtract these costs from your gross earnings. For example, if you earn $2,000 monthly but pay $600 for specialized transportation, your countable earnings are $1,400—below the SGA threshold.

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources toward a specific work goal without it counting against your benefits. If you are saving to start a business or complete training, a PASS can exclude that money from both earnings and resource limits. You must have a written plan approved by Social Security, and the goal must be realistic and time-limited. PASS plans are complex and require coordination with a Social Security work incentives planner, but they can significantly extend your ability to work and earn above the SGA threshold.

What happens if you exceed SGA

If Social Security determines you are performing SGA, your benefits do not stop when ready. You enter a process called Continuing Disability Review (CDR), in which Social Security reassesses whether your medical condition still prevents substantial work. This review can take several months. During the review, you continue receiving benefits. If Social Security concludes you can perform SGA, your benefits end, but you have the right to request reconsideration and to appeal.

If you are in the Extended may be able to access Period, the rules are simpler: you lose benefits only for the months in which you earn over $1,550. Your benefits resume automatically the next month if earnings drop below the threshold. This is one reason the EEP is valuable—it lets you test work without the risk of a full CDR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a one-time bonus that pushes me over $1,550 end my benefits?

Not automatically. Social Security looks at whether high earnings are part of a pattern. A single month over the threshold may not trigger a work review if your other months are below $1,550. However, you should report the bonus to Social Security to avoid an overpayment later. If you are still in your Trial Work Period, the bonus does not count against you at all.

If I work part-time and earn $1,400 monthly, am I safe from SGA?

Yes, as long as you stay below $1,550 each month. Social Security does not consider part-time work versus full-time work; only the dollar amount matters. However, if your hours or pay increase and push you over $1,550, Social Security will review your work activity. Track your earnings carefully, especially if your pay varies month to month.

Can I use IRWE to reduce my earnings below $1,550?

Yes, if you have legitimate disability-related work expenses. You must document these costs—receipts for transportation, invoices for medical equipment, or contracts for attendant care. Social Security will subtract approved IRWE from your gross earnings. You need to request IRWE consideration; Social Security does not automatically deduct these costs.

What if I earned over $1,550 before I knew about the SGA rule?

Report it to Social Security as soon as you realize it. Failing to report can result in an overpayment you will owe back, but reporting promptly shows good faith. Social Security may waive overpayment recovery in some cases if you did not know about the rule. Do not ignore the issue; contact your local Social Security office or your work incentives planner.

Does the SGA threshold explore if I am on SSI instead of SSDI?

No. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) uses different rules. SSI has a separate earnings exclusion ($65 monthly plus half of remaining earnings), not an SGA threshold. If you receive SSDI, the $1,550 rule applies. If you receive SSI, different limits explore.