What the 2025 SGA amount is for non-blind SSDI recipients

For 2025, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month. This is the income threshold Social Security uses to decide whether you are still disabled enough to keep your SSDI benefits. If you earn more than $1,550 in a month from work, Social Security will assume you are no longer disabled and may stop your benefits.

The SGA amount changes every year because it is tied to the national average wage index. Social Security announced the 2025 figure in October 2024. The amount applies to all non-blind SSDI recipients regardless of age, type of disability, or state of residence.

This threshold matters most during the trial work period and the extended may be able to access period that follow. During these windows, you can earn above SGA without an when ready benefit stop, but once extended may be able to access ends, crossing SGA triggers a review of your continued disability.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 SGA amount for non-blind SSDI recipients is $1,550 per month, an increase from $1,550 in 2024.
  • Earning more than $1,550 in a single month signals to Social Security that you may no longer be disabled and can lead to a continuing disability review.
  • The trial work period allows you to test your work capacity for nine months without losing benefits, regardless of how much you earn.
  • After the trial work period ends, the extended may be able to access period gives you 36 additional months to earn above SGA without an when ready benefit stop, but Social Security will review your case.
  • Self-employment income counts toward SGA, and Social Security uses net profit (revenue minus business expenses) to calculate your monthly earnings.

How Social Security measures your monthly earnings against SGA

Social Security counts gross wages from employment and net profit from self-employment when comparing your income to the SGA amount. For wages, they use what you earn before taxes and deductions. For self-employment, they subtract ordinary and necessary business expenses from your gross revenue to arrive at net profit.

The key word is monthly. A single month over $1,550 does not automatically end your benefits. Social Security looks at whether you have a pattern of earning above SGA. If you earn $2,000 one month and $800 the next, you are not yet considered to be working at the SGA level. However, if you consistently earn above $1,550 month after month, Social Security will treat that as a sign you are working and may no longer be disabled.

Certain types of income do not count toward SGA: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), other benefits, gifts, loans, and impairment-related work expenses (IRWE). If you use assistive technology, transportation, or personal care services specifically because of your disability, you may be able to deduct those costs from your gross earnings before Social Security compares your income to SGA.

The trial work period: earning above SGA without losing benefits

The trial work period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount without losing your SSDI benefits. You do not have to report your earnings during this time, and Social Security will not review your disability status based on work activity. The trial work period is a one-time benefit; once you use all nine months, it does not renew.

Months count toward your trial work period only if you earn $1,050 or more in that month (the 2025 trial work threshold). A month in which you earn less than $1,050 does not count, so you can have low-earning months without using up your nine-month window. This gives you flexibility to test different jobs or work schedules without penalty.

After your ninth trial work month ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period. This 36-month window allows you to keep your benefits even if you earn above SGA, but only if you report your work to Social Security. During extended may be able to access, if you earn above SGA in a month, Social Security will conduct a continuing disability review to confirm you are still disabled. If the review finds you are no longer disabled, your benefits stop.

What happens when you earn above SGA after extended may be able to access ends

Once your extended may be able to access period expires, the rules change. If you earn above the SGA amount ($1,550 in 2025) in a month, Social Security will assume you are performing substantial gainful activity and will stop your benefits. You will receive a notice explaining the termination, and you have the right to request reconsideration or a hearing if you disagree.

However, stopping your benefits does not mean you lose them forever. If you stop working or your earnings drop below SGA, you can report the change to Social Security. Depending on how long you have been off the rolls, you may be able to restart benefits without a new process through a process called expedited reinstatement. Expedited reinstatement allows you to restart benefits for up to 60 months if you return to work and then become unable to work again within that window.

You also have the option to request a work incentive plan to achieve self-support (PASS). A PASS allows you to set aside income and resources for a specific work goal—such as starting a business or paying for training—without that money counting toward your SGA calculation. A PASS must be in writing, approved by Social Security, and tied to a concrete goal with a timeline.

How the SGA amount differs for blind SSDI recipients

Blind SSDI recipients have a much higher SGA threshold. For 2025, the SGA amount for blind individuals is $2,590 per month, compared to $1,550 for non-blind recipients. This higher threshold reflects the assumption that blind individuals may need more time and resources to reach economic self-sufficiency and that their work capacity may be affected by their visual impairment.

The definition of blindness for SSDI purposes is strict: you must have central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in your better eye with correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. straightforward having low vision or needing glasses does not may have access to you for the blind SGA amount. If you believe you meet the definition of blindness, you can ask Social Security to reassess your case and explore the higher SGA threshold.

Why the SGA amount changes every year

The SGA amount is indexed to the national average wage index, which Social Security publishes each October based on the previous year's wage data. Because average wages in the United States typically increase year to year, the SGA amount usually rises. In 2024, the non-blind SGA amount was $1,550; for 2025, it remains $1,550, reflecting a flat year in wage growth.

Social Security announces the new SGA amount in October and it takes effect January 1 of the following year. You can find the current and historical SGA amounts on the Social Security website under the "Work Incentives" section. Knowing the upcoming year's SGA amount can help you plan your work and earnings if you are approaching the threshold.

Reporting your work and earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security, even during the trial work period. You can report by phone, mail, or through your online Social Security account. Social Security uses your reports to track whether you have entered the extended may be able to access period and to monitor your continuing disability status once extended may be able to access ends.

Failing to report work can result in an overpayment—benefits you were not supposed to receive. If Social Security discovers unreported work, you will be asked to repay the overpayment, and the agency may impose penalties. Reporting promptly and accurately protects you and keeps your case file current.

If you are self-employed, you will need to provide Social Security with documentation of your net profit, typically through tax returns or business records. Keep detailed records of your income and expenses so you can show Social Security exactly how much you are earning and what costs you are deducting.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earn $1,600 one month, will my benefits stop when ready?

Not when ready. If you are still in your trial work period, you can earn any amount without losing benefits. If you are in extended may be able to access, Social Security will conduct a continuing disability review, but your benefits do not stop until that review concludes and finds you are no longer disabled. If you are past extended may be able to access, one month over SGA triggers a review, and if the review finds you can work, your benefits will stop.

Does self-employment income count the same way as wages?

Yes, but Social Security calculates it differently. For self-employment, they use your net profit (revenue minus ordinary business expenses), not gross revenue. You will need to provide tax returns or business records to prove your net earnings. If you are just starting a business, Social Security may use a projection of expected net profit.

Can I use a PASS to lower my countable earnings?

Yes. A PASS lets you set aside income toward a specific work goal without that money counting toward SGA. You must have a written plan approved by Social Security, and the goal must be realistic and time-limited. A PASS can be a powerful tool if you are earning above SGA but working toward self-sufficiency.

What if I become unable to work again after my benefits stopped?

You may be able to restart benefits through expedited reinstatement if you stopped work within 60 months of your benefit termination and become unable to work again. You do not need a new process; Social Security uses your old case file. You must report the change in your work status promptly.

How do I know if I am blind under Social Security's definition?

Social Security's definition is narrow: central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in your better eye with correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. If you think you meet this standard, contact Social Security and ask for a reassessment. You will need recent eye exam results from an ophthalmologist or optometrist to support your claim.