Substantial Gainful
Activity (SGA):
Substantial Gainful
Activity (SGA) is
a guide (dollar
amount) that Social
Security uses to
evaluate earned
income and work
activity of
individuals applying
for or receiving
disability benefits.
Monthly SGA earnings
limits are adjusted
annually based on
fluctuations in the
national average
wage index. The SGA
level is higher for
persons who are
determined by Social
Security to be
blind.
For 2011, SGA is
$1000 (for non-blind)
and $1,640 for
individuals whose
primary disability
according to Social
Security's records
is blindness.
Previous Substantial
Gainful Activity
monthly amounts
(non-blind) were:
-
$1000 in 2010 (non-blind); $1640 (blind);
-
$980 in 2009
(non-blind);
$1640 (blind);
-
$940 in 2008
(non-blind);
$1570 (blind);
-
$900 in 2007
(non-blind);
$1500 (blind);
-
$860 in 2006
(non-blind);
$1450 (blind);
-
$830 in 2005
(non-blind);
$1380 (blind);
-
$810 in 2004
(non-blind);
$1350 (blind);
-
$800 in 2003
(non-blind);
$1330 (blind);
-
$780 in 2002
(non-blind);
$1300 (blind);
-
$740 in 2001
(non-blind);
$1240 (blind);
-
$700 from July
of 1999 to
December of 2000
(non-blind); *
-
$500 from
January 1990 to
June 1999
(non-blind); *
How SGA is Used in
Work Evaluation:
If you are receiving
SSDI, when you have
completed your
Trial Work Period
(TWP),
The Social Security
Administration (SSA)
will conduct a work
Continuing
Disability Review.
The purpose of this
review is to
determine if your
work has met the SGA
amounts. If you
have consistently
earned SGA, your
benefit check will
stop after a
three-month
Grace Period.
If you have not
consistently earned
SGA, the Social
Security
Administration will
use tools such as
Income Averaging
or
Unsuccessful Work
Attempt
to further evaluate
whether work
activity meets SGA.
Additionally, some
individuals may
benefit from other
SSDI work incentives
called
Subsidies and
Special Conditions
or
Impairment-Related
Work Expenses
that may help the
earnings counted by
SSA to stay below
SGA. To further
understand if you
are earning SGA,
contact your local
Social Security
Administration
or and
Indiana Works
Community Work
Incentives
Coordinator.
