Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

The key measure the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to determine whether you’re able to work is called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Your eligibility hinges on staying below these monthly income thresholds:

• $1,620 per month for most people (non-blind) in 2025
• $2,700 per month if you are legally blind

Halting your eligibility doesn’t require perfection—just ensuring your gross earned income doesn’t regularly exceed these limits.

How SSDI Treats Income

Earned Income (Countable Income)

This includes:

• Pay from employment
• Net earnings if self-employed
• Tips, bonuses, and commissions

IRA expenses (Impairment-Related Work Expenses) and certain wage subsidies could effectively reduce your SSA-calculated income if properly documented and submitted.

Unearned Income (Does Not Count)

SOURCES that don’t count toward SGA include:

• Retirement payouts
• Disability or survivor benefits
• Investment dividends or rental income
• Child support or alimony

These do not affect your eligibility, but you should still keep documentation for all income you receive.

Trial Work Period (TWP) and Extended Eligibility (EPE)

Trial Work Period (TWP)

• You’re allowed 9 “trial months” (not necessarily consecutive) where you can earn over the SGA limit and still receive full benefits.
• In 2025, any month you earn more than $1,110 qualifies as a TWP month.

Extended Eligibility Period (EPE)

• After TWP ends, you enter a 36-month window where benefits may continue in months your earnings are below the SGA limit.
• If earnings exceed SGA in a month, benefits pause—but can restart automatically next month if earnings drop back below the threshold.

Self-Employment & Special Rules

For self-employed individuals, SSA evaluates:

• Comparability of work: Are your activities similar in skill and responsibility to your previous work?
• Worth of services: Is the value of your labor to the business or to others exceeding what is typical for someone with your disability?

Even if earnings are low, the SSA may find you’re engaged in SGA if your work demonstrates substantial productivity or control.

Unsuccessful Work Attempts (UWA)

If you try working and it fails within six months due to your disability—or you can’t continue because accommodations end—SSA may consider this an Unsuccessful Work Attempt. Earnings may not count toward SGA, but be sure to document the reasons why your work didn’t succeed.

Reporting Requirements

To stay compliant:

• Report all earnings monthly—even if you earn very little.
• Notify SSA when you start or stop working, change hours or duties, or receive accommodations.
• Provide documentation such as pay stubs, logs of hours, and IRWE receipts.
• For self-employed individuals, maintain a detailed profit-loss record and time log of work performed.

Practical Tips to Safeguard SSDI Benefits

• Stay under SGA unless you’re in a valid TWP month.
• Track TWP months so you don’t unintentionally exceed the limit.
• Keep up-to-date medical treatment and records showing ongoing impairments.
• Submit IRWE documentation timely if you need deductions.
• Consider using Ticket to Work services if you want help returning to work safely.