Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Rules for Disability in 2025

When applying for Social Security Disability (SSD), one of the first hurdles you face is proving you cannot engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In simple terms, SGA is the level of work activity and earnings that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to decide whether you are “disabled” under their rules.

If your earnings are above the SGA limit, SSA will usually deny your claim—regardless of your medical condition.

SGA Limits in 2025

The SGA amount changes every year based on national wage growth. For 2025, the limits are:

$1,550/month for non-blind individuals
$2,590/month for blind individuals

Earning more than these amounts generally means SSA will consider you able to work, making you ineligible for benefits.

What Counts as Substantial Gainful Activity?

SGA isn’t just about how much money you make—it’s also about the type of work you do. SSA looks at:

Wages and Self-Employment Income: Gross monthly income before taxes.
Work Effort: Even if you work fewer hours, if your earnings cross the threshold, it counts as SGA.
Special Work Conditions: If your employer makes accommodations (like fewer duties or extra breaks), SSA may consider this in your favor.

Can You Work at All While Applying for SSD?

Yes, but it’s risky. You can work part-time as long as your income stays below the SGA limit. However, SSA will carefully review whether your job shows you can perform substantial work. Many applicants accidentally earn too much and get denied.

How SGA Affects Your Disability Case

Initial Applications: Most claims are denied here if income is above SGA.
Reconsideration & Hearings: If you were denied because of SGA but later stopped working, your case may become stronger.
Back Pay: Stopping work below the SGA level earlier can increase your back pay award if you’re eventually approved. How much backpay you receive depends on several factors, but you can use our calculator to estimate those numbers.

Get Help Navigating SGA Rules

SGA is one of the most confusing parts of applying for disability. At Crossroads Disability, we help clients:

Understand whether their current work disqualifies them.
Gather evidence to show why work attempts failed.
File appeals quickly if SSA denies their claim.

👉 Ready to find out if your work history qualifies under SSA’s rules? Start with our Free Disability Case Evaluation and try our Disability Benefits Calculator to estimate your monthly benefits.

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