The 2025 SGA amount is $1,550 per month

Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA, is the dollar amount Social Security uses to decide whether you are working too much to receive SSDI. In 2025, that amount is $1,550 per month. If you earn more than this in a month, Social Security may consider you able to work and could stop your benefits.

This number changes every year because Social Security ties it to the national average wage. The $1,550 figure applies to most people receiving SSDI. There is a separate, higher SGA limit for people who are blind — $2,590 per month in 2025 — but the rules work the same way.

The key thing to understand is that SGA is not a hard cutoff where you lose benefits the moment you cross it. Social Security looks at your work history, your job duties, and how much you actually earn over time. But knowing the SGA limit helps you plan whether working will affect your benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • If you earn more than $1,550 per month in 2025, Social Security will review whether your work counts as substantial gainful activity and may affect your SSDI.
  • The SGA limit increases each year, so the amount that triggers a review in 2026 will be different from 2025.
  • Earning under the SGA limit does not automatically protect your benefits — Social Security also looks at the type of work you do and how many hours you work.
  • If you are blind, your SGA limit is higher at $2,590 per month in 2025, giving you more room to work without an when ready benefits review.
  • You must report your work and earnings to Social Security, even if you think you are under the limit.

How Social Security uses the SGA limit to review your case

When you report earnings to Social Security, they do not straightforward compare your monthly pay to $1,550. Instead, they look at whether your work, taken as a whole, shows you can do substantial gainful activity. This means they consider your job title, the hours you work, the skills the job requires, and whether you are working at a level similar to people without disabilities in the same field.

If you earn less than $1,550 in a given month, Social Security generally assumes your work is not substantial gainful activity. But if you earn more, they will dig deeper. They might ask you questions about your job duties, how many hours you work per week, and whether you have a supervisor or work independently. They may also look at whether your employer has made accommodations for your disability.

This review process can take several months. During that time, you usually keep receiving your SSDI payment while Social Security investigates. If they decide your work does count as substantial gainful activity, they will notify you and explain what happens next to your benefits.

Why the SGA limit changes every year

Social Security updates the SGA limit each year on January 1 based on data from the previous year's national average wage. The 2025 limit of $1,550 reflects wage growth across the country. In 2024, the SGA limit was $1,550 as well, but in 2023 it was $1,470, and in 2022 it was $1,350.

Because the limit rises most years, you may find that work that triggered a review in one year does not in the next. If you are planning to work, it is worth checking Social Security's website in early January each year to see the new SGA amount. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask what the current year's limit is.

The blind SGA limit also increases each year. In 2024 it was $2,590, and in 2023 it was $2,460. The blind limit is always higher because Social Security recognizes that blindness may require different work arrangements or accommodations that affect earning potential.

What counts as earnings under SGA

Not all money you receive counts as earnings for SGA purposes. Social Security counts wages from a job, net profit from self-employment, and certain other forms of work income. They do not count things like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), other benefits, gifts, loans, or money from selling personal property.

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — the money left after you subtract business expenses. This can be tricky to calculate, so if you run your own business, it helps to keep detailed records of what you earn and what you spend. Social Security may ask to see tax returns or business records to verify your net profit.

Work incentive programs like the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can help you set aside some of your earnings so they do not count toward the SGA limit. These programs are designed to help you work toward a specific goal, like starting a business or getting training. If you think a work incentive program might help you, ask Social Security about it when you report your work.

The difference between SGA and the trial work period

The SGA limit is separate from something called the trial work period. During your trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI benefit. The trial work period lasts nine months (not necessarily consecutive) and gives you a chance to test whether you can work without when ready losing benefits.

After your trial work period ends, the SGA limit kicks in. If you are still working and earning over $1,550 per month, Social Security will review your case. This is when the SGA amount becomes the main factor in deciding whether your benefits continue.

Many people use their trial work period to test a job or build work skills before the SGA limit applies. If you have not used your trial work period yet, ask Social Security about it when you start working. They can explain how many trial work months you have left and what happens when they run out.

Reporting your work and earnings to Social Security

You are required to tell Social Security about any work you do, even if you earn less than $1,550 per month. You can report your work by phone, by mail, or through your online Social Security account. When you report, have information ready about your job title, the hours you work, how much you earn, and the name and address of your employer.

Social Security asks you to report your work within 30 days of starting a job or within 30 days of a significant change in your earnings or hours. If you do not report and Social Security finds out you were working, they may overpay you and ask you to repay the money. Reporting on time protects you and keeps your case accurate.

If you work for a large employer, Social Security may also receive wage reports directly from your employer through the Social Security Administration's wage reporting system. This means they may know about your work even if you do not report it yourself. Reporting it yourself first is the safest approach.

What happens if you earn over the SGA limit

If you earn more than $1,550 per month in 2025, Social Security will not automatically stop your benefits. Instead, they will review your work to decide whether it counts as substantial gainful activity. This review can take time, and you will usually keep receiving your benefit while they investigate.

If Social Security decides your work does count as substantial gainful activity, they have options. They might stop your benefit right away, or they might place you in an extended work incentive period where your benefits continue but at a reduced rate. The exact outcome depends on your specific situation and how much you are earning.

If your benefits do stop, you may be able to restart them later if your earnings drop below the SGA limit or if your work situation changes. You do not lose your SSDI status permanently just because you worked. Social Security keeps your case open and can reinstate your benefits if you become unable to work again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does earning under $1,550 mean my benefits are safe?

Earning under the SGA limit is a good sign, but Social Security also looks at the type of work you do and how many hours you work. You could earn under $1,550 and still have Social Security decide your work counts as substantial gainful activity. Always report your work to Social Security so they can review your specific situation.

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

Social Security generally does not consider work substantial gainful activity if you earn less than the SGA limit. At exactly $1,550, you are at the threshold, and Social Security will likely review your case more closely. Report the amount and let them decide. They look at more than just the dollar amount.

Can I work part-time and stay under the SGA limit?

Many people work part-time and earn under $1,550 per month. Whether part-time work affects your benefits depends on the hours and the type of work. A part-time job at minimum wage might keep you under the limit, but Social Security still needs to review whether the work itself counts as substantial gainful activity.

If I am blind, can I earn more and keep my benefits?

Yes, the SGA limit for blind individuals is $2,590 per month in 2025, which is higher than the standard limit. This gives you more room to work before Social Security reviews your case. You still need to report your work, and Social Security will still review whether your work counts as substantial gainful activity.

What if my earnings go up and down each month?

Social Security looks at your work over time, not just one month. If you have a month where you earn over $1,550 but other months where you earn less, they will consider your average earnings and the pattern of your work. Report each month's earnings accurately so they have the full picture.