How Does Social Security Use SGA to Decide if You Qualify for Disability Benefits?
SGA is one of the first things the SSA looks at when evaluating whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
Social Security views disability differently from how you, friends and family, or even doctors, might. They look at it through a lens of whether you can work and how much.
The SSA considers whether you’re performing physical or mental activities that generate income—or you could be—regardless of how your condition affects you in other ways.
The SGA limit typically changes every year. If you make under that amount from work, you’re still in the running for disability benefits. If you make over that amount, your claim may be denied.
For 2025, the monthly SGA limits were set at:
- $1,620/month for most applicants
- $2,700/month if you’re blind
What the SSA is really asking is:
Can you still perform any kind of work that earns income at a meaningful level, even with your disability?
If the answer is “yes,” they may deny your claim.
If the answer is “no” and you can demonstrate that your medical problems are serious, then you might be approved for Social Security Disability.
At Hanley Disability, we help you gather the income history and medical records to prove that your disability makes it impossible to sustain substantial gainful work.
Do you wonder where you stand? Talk to Hanley Disability for a FREE initial consultation on your disability claim.
How Does SGA Affect Your Social Security Disability Benefits?
Social Security doesn’t just use SGA to assess new disability applications. They also use it to monitor people who are already receiving benefits.
Here’s how it works in both situations:
When You’re Applying for Social Security Disability
If you’re working, even part-time, Social Security will look closely at your income. At Hanley Disability, we recommend that you work less than 20 hours a week to qualify for disability benefits.
You may need to show that your job is:
- Temporary or unsustainable due to worsening health
- Part of an unsuccessful work attempt
- Below the SGA income limit after deductions
If You’re Already Receiving Disability Benefits
The SSA offers something called a “Trial Work Period” for people already receiving disability income who want to test their ability to return to work.
During the TWP, you can earn income above substantial gainful activity for up to nine months (not necessarily consecutively) within a five-year window and still keep your disability benefits.
After the nine-month trial period, Social Security puts you in an “Extended Period of Eligibility” where they evaluate whether your work is truly substantial.
If your earnings remain above the SGA level, your benefits may stop, but if your income drops again, you may still qualify for quick reinstatement of disability benefits.
This system is designed to encourage people to try working without immediately losing their safety net.
But navigating the rules is confusing. Hanley Disability is here to explain your options, help you avoid mistakes and protect your benefits.
At Hanley Disability, we exclusively help people with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
We’ll help you understand the rules, prepare your paperwork, and communicate clearly with Social Security to give your claim the best possible chance.
For questions about SGA or anything else about the process of securing financial stability in the face of health problems, contact us at Hanley Disability.
