1. What Does Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Mean?

Substantial gainful activity is a term used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to define a level of work and earnings that shows a person is capable of performing work significant enough to disqualify them from receiving disability benefits.

• “Substantial” means the work involves significant physical or mental activities, even if part-time.
• “Gainful” means the work is done for pay or profit, or is the type of work usually done for pay or profit.

If SSA determines that you are performing SGA, you will not be considered disabled under their rules.

2. What Are the SGA Income Limits for 2025?

For 2025, the monthly income thresholds for SGA are:

• Non-blind individuals: $1,550 per month (gross income, before taxes)
• Statutorily blind individuals: $2,590 per month

If you earn above these amounts from work, SSA considers that you are performing substantial gainful activity and are ineligible for SSDI or SSI benefits, regardless of the severity of your medical condition.

3. Does All Work Count as SGA?

Not all income automatically counts as SGA. SSA evaluates:

• The type of work performed
• The hours worked
• Whether you receive special accommodations or assistance
• Whether your income is subsidized by your employer (for example, if your employer pays you full wages but your productivity is significantly lower than co-workers)

SSA will adjust your earnings if you receive subsidies, pay impairment-related work expenses, or have irregular income due to your disability.

4. Examples of Substantial Gainful Activity

Example 1: Working Over the Limit

If you work part-time at a clerical job earning $1,700 per month (gross income), SSA considers this above the SGA limit for non-blind individuals. Unless special work conditions apply, you would not be considered disabled.

Example 2: Below SGA Limit

If you work as a cashier earning $1,000 per month, this is below the 2025 SGA limit. Your work does not automatically disqualify you, and SSA will proceed to evaluate your medical eligibility.

5. How Does SGA Affect SSDI Eligibility?

To be approved for SSDI:

• You must be unable to engage in SGA due to your disability.
• SSA uses your average monthly earnings to evaluate SGA. Occasional fluctuations do not always disqualify a claim if your average income remains below the limit.

6. How Does SGA Affect SSI Eligibility?

For SSI:

• The program is needs-based, so earned income reduces your monthly benefit amount.
• SSA still uses SGA rules to determine disability eligibility, meaning you must be earning below the SGA threshold to be considered disabled. However, the SSI income calculation rules apply separately to your benefit payment.

7. What About Self-Employment or Gig Work?

If you are self-employed, SSA evaluates SGA by:

• Considering your net income after business expenses
• Analyzing the value of your work activity, even if your net income is low, to determine if the work is substantial
• Reviewing how many hours you work, your responsibilities, and whether your business income is a result of your efforts or others’ work

This means that self-employed individuals must provide detailed documentation of business activities, income, and expenses.

8. Can You Work at All While Receiving Disability?

Yes, under SSA’s work incentive programs, such as:

• Trial Work Period (TWP) for SSDI: Allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months without losing benefits, regardless of income.
• Ticket to Work Program: Provides vocational rehabilitation and support services to return to employment without immediate loss of benefits.

However, earning above the SGA limit after your trial work period will result in termination of SSDI benefits.