The 2025 Substantial Gainful Activity threshold is $1,550 per month

If you receive SSDI, the Social Security Administration uses a dollar amount called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to decide whether your work is substantial enough to affect your benefits. In 2025, that threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 per month for blind beneficiaries. These figures change each year because they are tied to the national average wage index.

The SGA limit is not a hard cap on what you can earn and keep all your benefits. Instead, it is a test: if you earn more than the monthly threshold, Social Security will assume you are working at a substantial level and may review whether you still meet the definition of disabled. If you earn less, your work is treated as non-substantial, and your benefits continue without question.

The threshold applies to your gross earnings—the amount before taxes or deductions. It includes wages from employment, net income from self-employment, and certain other forms of work-related income. Royalties, rental income, and investment returns do not count toward SGA.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2025, you can earn up to $1,550 per month (or $2,590 if blind) without triggering a work-related review of your disability status.
  • The SGA limit is based on gross income before taxes, and it resets each January based on the national average wage.
  • Earning above the threshold does not automatically end your benefits, but it signals to Social Security that a medical review may be needed.
  • Work incentive programs like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce your countable earnings and help you stay under the limit.

How Social Security counts your monthly earnings

Social Security counts earnings in the month you receive them, not the month you work. If you are paid on the 15th and the last day of each month, both payments count toward that same month's total. If your pay schedule does not align with the calendar month, Social Security will count what you actually receive between the first and last day of the month.

For self-employed people, the calculation is more complex. Social Security counts your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) and divides it by the number of months you were self-employed. If you started a business in October and ran it through December, Social Security would divide your net profit by three. This can lower your monthly average and keep you under the SGA threshold even if your total annual income is high.

Bonuses, back pay, and irregular payments all count in the month received. If you receive a one-time bonus in March, the full amount counts toward March's earnings, which could push you over the limit that month even if your regular monthly pay is well below $1,550.

What happens when you earn above the SGA threshold

Crossing the SGA threshold does not automatically stop your SSDI payments. Instead, it triggers what Social Security calls a work incentive evaluation. Social Security will review your medical condition to determine whether the work you are doing shows that your disability has improved enough that you no longer meet the definition of disabled.

This review can take several months. During that time, you continue to receive your regular SSDI payment. If Social Security concludes that your condition has not improved and you are still disabled, your benefits continue even though you earned above the threshold. If they determine your condition has improved, they will send you a notice explaining the decision and your right to request reconsideration.

The key word is "substantial." Earning $1,551 one month does not end your benefits. But if you consistently earn above the threshold month after month, Social Security will eventually conclude that your work is substantial and may schedule a medical review. The timing depends on how much you earn and for how long.

Using work incentives to reduce your countable earnings

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay because of your disability to work. These might include special transportation to get to work, medication needed to work, medical equipment, or personal care information during work hours. If you have IRWE, you can subtract those costs from your gross earnings before Social Security counts them toward SGA. If you earn $1,800 per month but spend $300 on disability-related work costs, Social Security counts only $1,500 toward the SGA threshold.

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a written plan that sets aside income and resources for a specific work goal—like training for a new job, starting a business, or buying equipment. Money set aside under a PASS does not count toward your earnings limit. If you earn $2,000 per month and set aside $600 under an approved PASS, only $1,400 counts toward SGA. PASS plans must be approved by Social Security before they take effect, and they require documentation of your goal and how the money will be used.

Both IRWE and PASS are formal work incentives that require paperwork and Social Security approval. They are not automatic. You must request them and provide evidence of the expenses or the plan. But they can make a real difference if you are close to or above the SGA threshold.

The trial work period and extended may be able to access

SSDI includes a trial work period that lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits. During the trial work period, you can earn any amount—there is no SGA limit—and still receive your full SSDI payment. A trial work month is any month in which you earn $1,090 or more (in 2025). You get nine trial work months within a rolling 60-month window.

After you use your nine trial work months, you enter the extended may be able to access period. This period lasts 36 months. During extended may be able to access, the SGA threshold applies again, but if you earn above it, your benefits do not stop when ready. Instead, Social Security withholds your payment for that month only. Once your earnings drop back below SGA, your benefits resume the next month.

The trial work period and extended may be able to access are designed to give you time to prove you can work before your benefits end. Many people use the trial work period to test a new job or business idea without financial risk. Once extended may be able to access ends, the regular SGA rules explore, and sustained earnings above the threshold can lead to a medical review and potential termination of benefits.

Why the SGA threshold changes each year

Social Security adjusts the SGA threshold every January based on the national average wage index from two years prior. The index measures the total wages paid in the United States and reflects inflation and wage growth. When average wages rise, the SGA threshold rises with it. In 2024, the non-blind SGA threshold was $1,550; in 2025, it remains $1,550 because the national average wage did not increase enough to trigger an adjustment.

The blind SGA threshold is higher because the law assumes blind individuals may need more time or resources to work. It is currently $2,590 per month in 2025. Both thresholds are published by Social Security in November of the prior year, so you can plan ahead if you know you are approaching the limit.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security. The method depends on your situation. If you receive benefits as a child or spouse on someone else's record, you must report earnings to the local Social Security office. If you receive SSDI on your own record, you can report online through your my Social Security account, by phone, or in person at your local office.

Social Security also receives wage information from your employer through tax records, so underreporting is risky. If your reported earnings do not match what Social Security receives from your employer, they will contact you to clarify. Intentional misreporting can result in overpayment recovery and potential fraud charges.

Report your earnings as soon as you know them, not at the end of the year. This helps Social Security track your monthly totals accurately and prevents surprises later. If you are self-employed, keep detailed records of income and expenses so you can calculate your net profit correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn more than $1,550 in one month without losing my benefits?

Yes. Earning above the threshold one month does not automatically end your benefits. Social Security will review your medical condition to see if your work shows improvement. If you stay under the threshold most months, a single high-earning month is unlikely to trigger action. But if you consistently earn above the limit, a medical review becomes more likely.

Does the SGA limit explore to my spouse's or child's benefits?

No. The SGA threshold applies only to SSDI beneficiaries on their own record. Spouses and children receiving benefits based on a worker's record have different earnings rules. A spouse under full retirement age can earn up to a different limit before benefits are reduced. Children's benefits are not affected by their own earnings.

What counts as self-employment income for SGA purposes?

Social Security counts your net profit from self-employment—revenue minus ordinary business expenses. It does not count the cost of goods sold, but it does count rent, utilities, supplies, and wages you pay to employees. You must have a genuine business with the intent to make a profit; hobby income does not count as self-employment.

Can I use IRWE and PASS at the same time?

Yes. You can have both an approved PASS and claim IRWE in the same month. IRWE reduces your countable earnings, and PASS sets aside additional income. Together, they can significantly lower the amount Social Security counts toward SGA. Both require separate approval and documentation.

What happens to my benefits if I earn above SGA during extended may be able to access?

During the 36-month extended may be able to access period, if you earn above SGA, Social Security withholds your payment for that month only. Your benefits resume the next month if your earnings drop back below the threshold. This is different from the regular SGA rule, which can trigger a medical review. Extended may be able to access is a safety net designed to help you transition to work.