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

If you receive SSDI and are not blind, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount is the monthly earnings limit Social Security uses to decide whether you are still disabled. In 2025, that limit is $1,550. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security will assume you can work and may stop your benefits, even if you report the income yourself.

This is not a limit on how much you can earn before taxes or deductions. Social Security counts your gross earnings — the money before taxes, transportation costs, or work expenses come out. A single month over $1,550 does not automatically end your case, but it starts a process that can. Understanding how Social Security measures your work and when the SGA threshold actually matters is the difference between keeping your benefits and losing them unexpectedly.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA amount for non-blind SSDI recipients is $1,550 per month, based on gross earnings before taxes or deductions.
  • Earning over the SGA amount in one month does not when ready stop your benefits, but it triggers a medical review and may end your case if Social Security finds you can work.
  • The SGA amount increases each year in January based on the national average wage index and is different for blind workers ($2,590 in 2025).
  • You must report all work and earnings to Social Security, even if you think you are under the limit, because underreporting can result in overpayment recovery and benefit termination.

How Social Security measures your earnings against SGA

Social Security counts gross monthly earnings, which means the total you earn before any deductions. If you are paid weekly or biweekly, Social Security adds up all paychecks received in a calendar month. If you are self-employed, they count your net profit after business expenses, not your total revenue.

One month over $1,550 does not end your benefits when ready. Instead, Social Security sends you a notice that your case is under review. They will ask for medical evidence and may schedule a consultative exam. If they determine you can still work at the SGA level, they will send a notice of cessation — a formal letter saying your benefits will stop. You then have a right to request reconsideration or a hearing before an administrative law judge.

The key word is "substantial." Social Security looks at whether your work is substantial, not just whether you crossed a number. If you earn $1,600 one month but then drop back to $800 the next month, they may not treat it as substantial work. But if you consistently earn over $1,550, they will almost certainly view it as substantial gainful activity.

Why the SGA amount changes every year

Social Security adjusts the SGA amount each January based on the national average wage index from two years prior. The 2025 amount of $1,550 reflects wage growth through 2023. In 2024, the non-blind SGA was $1,470, so the increase was $80.

The blind SGA amount is always higher. In 2025, it is $2,590 per month. Social Security maintains a separate, higher threshold for blind beneficiaries because blindness creates specific work barriers that do not explore to other disabilities. If your case was approved as blind, you use the blind SGA amount even if your vision improves slightly.

Social Security publishes the new SGA amounts in December for the following year. You can find the current amounts on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213. The amounts explore to all SSDI beneficiaries nationwide — there is no state variation.

What happens if you earn over SGA in a single month

Earning more than $1,550 in one month puts your case into what Social Security calls "continuing disability review" status. You will receive a letter asking you to report your work and provide pay stubs or other proof of earnings. Social Security will also request updated medical records from your doctors.

During this review, your benefits continue while Social Security decides. The process usually takes two to four months. If Social Security concludes that your work proves you are no longer disabled, they will issue a cessation notice. This notice tells you the date your benefits will stop and explains your right to appeal.

If you disagree with the cessation, you can request reconsideration within 10 days of the notice. If Social Security denies reconsideration, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. The hearing process can take six months to a year, and your benefits usually continue while you wait.

The trial work period and extended may be able to access

SSDI includes a trial work period that protects you if you are testing your ability to work. During the trial work period, you can earn any amount — even well above SGA — and keep your full SSDI benefit. The trial work period lasts nine months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month window.

After your trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During extended may be able to access, if you earn over SGA in a month, your benefits stop for that month only — you do not lose the entire case. Once your earnings drop below $1,550 again, your benefits restart the following month.

Many SSDI recipients do not realize they have a trial work period. If you have not used yours yet, report your work to Social Security and ask them to count months toward your trial work period. This can give you months of protection while you test whether you can work consistently.

Reporting your work and earnings to Social Security

You are required to report all work to Social Security within 30 days of starting a job, even if you think your earnings will stay under $1,550. Failing to report work is considered fraud, and Social Security will recover any overpayments you received while working unreported. The recovery can be taken from your future benefits or pursued as a debt.

When you report work, give Social Security your employer's name, the date you started, your job title, and how many hours you work per week. Social Security will ask you to provide pay stubs each month so they can verify your earnings. Keep copies of everything you send them.

If your earnings change — you get a raise, cut your hours, or lose the job — report the change within 30 days. Social Security uses your reported earnings to decide whether you are still disabled. Underreporting or failing to report can result in benefit termination and a debt you will have to repay.

Planning your work around the SGA threshold

If you are working or considering work, you have several options for managing the SGA limit. The simplest is to keep your monthly gross earnings below $1,550 by working part-time or limiting your hours. This keeps you safely under the threshold and avoids any review.

If you want to work more, use your trial work period first. During those nine months, you can earn any amount without risking your benefits. After the trial work period, you can continue working during extended may be able to access, knowing that benefits stop only in months you earn over $1,550 — you do not lose the entire case.

Some SSDI recipients use impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) to reduce their countable earnings. If you have work-related costs directly caused by your disability — such as a personal assistant, special transportation, or medical equipment needed for work — you may be able to deduct those costs from your gross earnings before Social Security counts them against SGA. You must document these expenses and report them to Social Security.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earn $1,600 one month, will my benefits stop when ready?

No. Social Security will send you a notice that your case is under review. Your benefits continue while they gather medical evidence and decide whether you can work at the SGA level. If they determine you cannot work, the case closes and benefits continue. If they find you can work, they send a cessation notice with a stop date, and you have the right to appeal.

Does the SGA amount include my spouse's income or household income?

No. Social Security counts only your own earnings, not your spouse's income, household income, or other family members' work. The SGA threshold applies to you individually based on what you earn from your own work.

What if I am self-employed — how does Social Security count my earnings?

For self-employment, Social Security counts your net profit after business expenses, not your total revenue. You will need to provide tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, or other records showing your net income. If your net profit exceeds $1,550 in a month, it counts toward SGA the same way wages do.

Can I use my trial work period months even if I did not know about them?

Yes. If you have been working and did not report it as trial work, you can contact Social Security and ask them to count those months retroactively. Social Security has records of your earnings and can identify which months may have access to. This can protect you from a cessation if you have not yet used all nine months.

What is the difference between SGA and the earnings limit for SSI?

SGA applies only to SSDI. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) uses a different earnings limit called the "substantial gainful activity level for SSI," which is lower. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, Social Security will explore both rules to your case, and the lower limit will affect your SSI payment first.