Substantial Gainful Activity To be eligible for disability benefits, a person must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) A person who is earning more than a certain monthly amount (net of impairment-related work expenses) is ordinarily considered to be engaging in SGA
How Do We Define Disability? | The Red Book | SSA We use SGA as one of the factors to decide if you are initially eligible for Social Security Disability benefits or SSI If you receive SSDI benefits, we use SGA to decide if your eligibility for benefits continue after you return to work and complete your Trial Work Period (TWP)
Who can get Disability | SSA If you continue to work, your condition must also limit you from earning income above an amount we call “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) In 2025, SGA is $1,620 per month, or $2,700 if you’re considered blind under our rules
SSR 83-33 (Rescinded) It was decided that earnings provided an objective and feasible measurement of work Therefore, an earnings test was established and it has been the primary SGA guide since 1958 The SGA Earnings Guidelines are summarized in the table below