The Social Security Administration (SSA) must determine if an applicant is disabled before they can receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
While there are many steps in the disability process, one thing SSA will consider is whether or not an applicant is engaging in – or capable of engaging in – substantial gainful activity (SGA).
So, what is SGA?
SGA is a measure of a person’s earnings and work activity. While there are a lot of nuances to the calculations, there’s a general rule: An applicant who is earning more than a certain amount of money every month through work activity is considered to be engaging in SGA. If someone is engaged in SGA, they are not considered disabled – regardless of their medical condition.
SSA calculates a person’s SGA level by deducting out-of-pocket costs of disability-related items/services and work expenses from their monthly gross earnings. It will then compare the result with the current SGA earnings limit, which is adjusted annually due to inflation.
The administration allows a higher SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals ($2,700 per month in 2025) than for non-blind applicants ($1,620 per month in 2025). In other words, someone who is blind must earn less than $2,700 per month to be eligible for SSDI benefits, while an individual with another disability must earn less than $1,620 per month to receive benefits.
Factored into the calculations are an individual’s out-of-pocket expenses related to their disability. With proof of deductions, such as receipts for unreimbursed medical expenses, invoices for attendant care services, receipts for accessible vehicles/special parking, canceled checks for necessary work expenses and so forth, even someone earning more than the monthly SGA limit may still qualify for benefits.
If you have a disability, you may still qualify for SSDI benefits despite some work activity. Because the issue can be complex, however, it helps to have legal guidance. Learn more to understand the steps to take to increase your chances of approval.
