The 2025 SGA threshold is $1,550 per month

If you receive SSDI, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold is the monthly income limit that determines whether Social Security considers you to be working at a level that would end your benefits. For 2025, that threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security may decide you are no longer disabled and stop your payments.

The threshold changes every year because it is tied to the national average wage index. Social Security announces the new figure in October or November for the following year. The 2025 amount of $1,550 represents an increase from the 2024 threshold of $1,550 — though the exact increase varies year to year depending on wage growth across the country.

For people who are blind, the SGA threshold is higher: $2,590 per month in 2025. This separate limit recognizes that blind workers may need to spend more on work-related expenses like transportation or adaptive equipment.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA threshold of $1,550 per month is the income limit for non-blind SSDI beneficiaries; earning more than this in a month can trigger a work incentive review or benefit suspension.
  • Blind beneficiaries have a higher threshold of $2,590 per month in 2025, reflecting the additional costs of working with a visual impairment.
  • The threshold increases each year based on national wage growth and is announced by Social Security in the fall for the following year.
  • Crossing the SGA threshold does not automatically stop your benefits when ready; Social Security reviews your work history and may allow a trial work period before making a decision.
  • Work incentives like the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access Period can let you test your ability to work without losing benefits right away.

How Social Security uses the SGA threshold to review your case

Social Security does not stop your benefits the moment you earn $1,550 in a single month. Instead, the threshold is a signal that triggers a closer look at your work activity. If you report earnings above the threshold, Social Security will review whether your work is truly substantial and gainful — meaning it produces significant income and involves meaningful activity.

The agency also considers whether you are working because your condition improved or because you are using work incentives that let you test your ability to work. If you are in a Trial Work Period, you can earn any amount for nine months without affecting your benefits. After the trial period ends, Social Security looks at your average earnings over a longer window to decide whether to continue your benefits.

The SGA threshold is one tool Social Security uses, but it is not the only one. The agency also examines the nature of your work, how many hours you are working, and whether you are receiving support services that make the work possible. A person earning $1,600 per month doing part-time work may be treated differently than someone earning $1,600 per month in a full-time job.

What happens if you earn more than the threshold

Earning above $1,550 in a month does not automatically end your SSDI. Instead, it starts a process. Social Security will contact you and ask for details about your work — your job title, hours worked, duties, and whether you received any accommodations or support services. The agency wants to understand whether the work itself has changed or whether your condition has improved enough that you can work at a substantial level.

If Social Security determines that you are performing substantial gainful activity, your benefits do not stop when ready. You enter what is called the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you continue to receive benefits for any month in which you do not perform substantial gainful activity, even if you earned above the threshold in other months. This gives you a window to adjust your work schedule or test whether you can sustain the work.

After the Extended may be able to access Period ends, if you are still working at a substantial level, your benefits will stop. However, you may be able to restart them quickly if your work ends or your earnings drop below the threshold again.

Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access Period explained

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount without affecting your SSDI benefits. You do not have to tell Social Security in advance that you are starting work — you report your earnings when you file your annual report or when the agency asks. During these nine months, Social Security does not count your earnings against the SGA threshold at all.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2025) as trial work months. If you work part-time one month and earn less than $1,050, that month does not count toward your nine-month limit. This means a trial work period can stretch across several calendar years.

After your nine trial work months end, the Extended may be able to access Period begins. For the next 36 months, you keep your benefits in any month you do not perform substantial gainful activity, regardless of how much you earned in other months. This period protects you if your work is uneven — some months busy, some months slow. Once the 36 months end, if you are still working substantially, your benefits stop.

The difference between the SGA threshold and other income limits

The SGA threshold is separate from the Substantial Earnings Test, which applies to people who have not yet reached full retirement age. That test uses a different income limit and affects Social Security retirement benefits, not SSDI. Do not confuse the two.

SSDI also has a separate rule called the Student Earned Income Exclusion, which lets students under age 22 exclude up to $2,170 per month in 2025 (or up to $8,680 in a year) from their earnings when Social Security calculates whether they meet the SGA threshold. This rule applies only to students and only to earned income from work, not to unearned income like gifts or interest.

Additionally, SSDI has work incentives that let you set aside part of your earnings in a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). Money set aside in a PASS does not count toward the SGA threshold, which can let you earn above the threshold without triggering a benefit review. A PASS requires a written plan and Social Security approval, but it is a tool designed specifically for people who want to work toward a goal like starting a business or getting training.

When the threshold changes and how to stay informed

Social Security announces the new SGA threshold every October or November for the following year. The announcement appears on the Social Security website and in the Federal Register. If you receive SSDI, you do not need to do anything when the threshold changes — it applies automatically to your case.

However, it is worth knowing the new threshold each year if you are working or thinking about working. If your earnings are close to the current threshold, a small increase in the threshold the following year might mean you can earn a bit more without triggering a review. Conversely, if you are planning to increase your work hours, knowing the new threshold helps you understand what Social Security will consider substantial gainful activity.

You can find the current and past SGA thresholds on the Social Security Administration website under "Earnings Test" or "Work Incentives." You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about the current threshold and how it applies to your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does earning $1,550 one month mean my benefits will stop?

No. Earning at or slightly above the threshold in one month does not automatically stop your benefits. Social Security reviews your overall work pattern and may allow you to continue benefits if you are in a trial work period or if the earnings are temporary. The agency will contact you to discuss your work situation.

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

Yes, many people on SSDI work part-time and earn less than $1,550 per month. Part-time work at minimum wage or slightly above typically stays below the threshold. However, the threshold is about monthly income, not hours worked, so a part-time job at higher pay could exceed it.

What if I am blind — is my threshold different?

Yes. If you are blind, your SGA threshold is $2,590 per month in 2025, which is higher than the threshold for non-blind beneficiaries. This reflects the additional costs you may face in working with a visual impairment.

Do I have to report my earnings to Social Security?

Yes. You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security. You can report them on your annual report, by phone, or through your online Social Security account. Failing to report earnings can result in overpayments that you will have to repay.

What is a Plan to Achieve Self-Support and how does it help with the SGA threshold?

A PASS is a written plan you submit to Social Security that sets aside part of your earnings toward a specific work goal, like starting a business or getting a degree. Money in a PASS does not count toward the SGA threshold, so you can earn above the threshold without triggering a benefit review, as long as the earnings are set aside according to your plan.