The 2025 SGA amount for non-blind workers is $1,550 per month

If you receive SSDI and are not blind, you can earn up to $1,550 per month in 2025 without it affecting your benefits. This figure is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold, and Social Security updates it each year based on national wage trends.

The $1,550 limit applies to your gross earnings—the money you make before taxes or deductions. It does not matter whether you work one job or several; Social Security adds up all your monthly earnings and compares the total to this threshold. If you stay at or below $1,550 in a given month, that month does not count against your work incentives or your ongoing benefits.

This threshold is different from the Trial Work Period, which lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits for nine months. After the Trial Work Period ends, the SGA amount becomes the main rule that determines whether Social Security considers you able to work.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA threshold for non-blind SSDI recipients is $1,550 per month, and this amount changes each January based on national wage data.
  • Earnings are measured gross (before taxes), and Social Security counts all income from all jobs combined in a single month.
  • Months in which you earn $1,550 or less do not trigger a work incentive review or benefit suspension, even after your Trial Work Period ends.
  • If you earn more than $1,550 in a month, Social Security will review your case to determine whether you are still disabled and unable to work.
  • Blind SSDI recipients have a separate, higher SGA threshold that changes annually and is different from the non-blind amount.

How Social Security measures your monthly earnings

Social Security counts gross wages from employment, which means the full amount you earn before payroll taxes, insurance premiums, or other deductions come out. If you are self-employed, they count your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) rather than your total revenue.

The earnings count in the month you actually earn them, not the month you receive the paycheck. If you work on commission and receive payment in a later month, Social Security counts the earnings in the month you performed the work. This distinction matters if you are tracking your own earnings to stay under the threshold.

Certain types of income do not count toward the SGA limit. These include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, food stamps, housing information, and some other government benefits. However, wages from any job—part-time, temporary, or self-employment—do count, regardless of how many hours you work or how long the job lasts.

What happens if you earn more than $1,550 in a month

Earning more than $1,550 in a single month does not automatically stop your benefits. Instead, it signals to Social Security that you may be able to work at a substantial level, and they will review your case to determine whether you still meet the definition of disability.

During this review, Social Security examines whether your medical condition has improved and whether you can actually sustain work at the SGA level. The review can take several months. Your benefits continue while they investigate, but you should report the higher earnings promptly to avoid overpayments.

If Social Security concludes that you can work at a substantial level, your benefits may end. However, you have the right to request reconsideration and present evidence that your condition prevents you from working consistently, even if you earned above SGA in one or two months.

The difference between SGA and the Trial Work Period

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window that begins the first month you work after starting SSDI. During these nine months, you can earn any amount without affecting your benefits or your work incentive status. The months do not have to be consecutive.

After your nine Trial Work Period months end, the SGA threshold becomes the rule. From that point forward, months in which you earn $1,550 or less are called non-service months and do not count as work activity. Months in which you earn more than $1,550 count as service months and can eventually lead to a work capacity review.

Understanding which months count is important because Social Security uses a rolling 36-month window to track your work activity. If you have nine service months within any 36-month period after your Trial Work Period, your benefits will end. Staying under $1,550 per month helps you avoid accumulating service months.

SGA amounts change each year—here is why

Social Security recalculates the SGA threshold every January using data from the previous year's national average wage index. The index tracks what workers across the country earned on average, and the SGA amount is set at a percentage of that index.

Because wages generally increase over time, the SGA threshold typically rises each year. In 2024, the non-blind SGA amount was $1,550, and it remained $1,550 for 2025. However, this does not mean the amount will stay the same in 2026—Social Security will announce the 2026 threshold in late 2025 based on updated wage data.

You can find the current year's SGA amount on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213. If you work and want to track whether you are approaching the threshold, keeping your own earnings record is a good practice, especially if you have multiple jobs or irregular income.

Blind SSDI recipients have a higher SGA threshold

If you are blind and receive SSDI, your SGA threshold is higher than $1,550. Social Security recognizes that blind workers may face additional costs related to their blindness—such as transportation, readers, or adaptive equipment—and sets a separate, more generous limit.

The blind SGA threshold also updates each January. Like the non-blind amount, it is based on national wage data and changes year to year. If you are blind, you should verify your specific SGA amount with Social Security rather than assuming it matches the non-blind threshold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my SGA limit reset each month or is it cumulative?

The $1,550 limit applies to each individual month. If you earn $1,200 in January and $1,300 in February, each month is measured separately. You do not carry over unused earnings from one month to the next, and you do not add months together.

If I earn exactly $1,550, does that count as SGA?

No. The threshold is $1,550 or less. If you earn exactly $1,550, that month does not count as a service month and does not trigger a work capacity review. You must earn more than $1,550 to exceed the limit.

Do I have to report my earnings to Social Security every month?

You should report earnings if you are asked to do so or if your case is being monitored. Many SSDI recipients are required to file an annual earnings report. If you are unsure whether you must report, contact your local Social Security office or your work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project.

What if I work part of a month and then stop—does that month count?

Yes, the entire month counts based on your total earnings for that month, regardless of how many days you worked. If you earn $1,600 in a month where you worked only two weeks, that month is a service month because your earnings exceeded $1,550.

Can I go back to work after my benefits end due to SGA?

Yes. If your benefits end because you earned above SGA, you may be able to return to SSDI if your medical condition worsens and you can no longer work. You would need to file a new process or request reinstatement, and Social Security would review your current medical evidence.