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WHAT DOES SOCIAL SECURITY MEAN BY "SUBSTANTIAL GAINFUL ACTIVITY" OR SGA?

 Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA is a term used by Social Security to determine whether you are gainfully employed.

If you are gainfully employed you cannot receive disability benefits.

In 2023, you are engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (work) if you earn at least $1,470 per month (gross) from wages, tips, commissions or self-employment.  If you are working at SGA you are not eligible for disability or SSI benefits, no matter how sick or disabled you may be.  

n 2024, you will not be engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity unless you work and earn at least $1,550 per month (gross).  So, if you work and earn less than $1,550 per month (in 2024) you could be disabled.

Social Security goes to great lengths to assure that nobody who is working at SGA level can receive a disability benefit.  We get calls from individuals regularly who could probably prove that they are disabled, except for one thing:  they are working and earning wages above the SGA limit.

Can a person who only works part-time qualify for Social Security disability?  Yes, if their earnings are below the SGA level:  $1,470 per month in 2023 or $1,550 per month in 2024.

A word of caution is in order:  Even if your wages are technically below the defined SGA limit, your work can draw the attention of Social Security.  For example, you work 3 days a week but you earn $1,420 per month (gross).  This is technically below the SGA limit of $1,470 per month in 2023.  But, a decision maker may decide that if you are able to earn $1,420 per month you  could earn $1,470 if you really wanted to.

An individual who earns $800 per month is certainly under the SGA limit.  But a person who earns $1,400 per month is technically under the SGA limit but practically may be questionable.

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