Sustantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

Substantial gainful activity is the term used by Social Security to determine if you can work and earn a substantial living even though you are disabled. It is important when you file for disability and after you have used your 9-month trial work period. If Social Security decides after you have used your trial work period that you are doing substantial gainful work, they would suspend your Social Security disability checks.

If you work as an employee, use the dollar amounts in the chart below. If you work as a self-employed individual, see the additional criteria below the chart.

Blind individuals have a different dollar amount than non-blind individuals.

Dollar Limits for Non-blind and Blind Employees

Monthly substantial gainful activity (SGA) amounts
for blind and non-blind disabled employees

Year	Non-Blind	Blind
1975	$200	$200
1976	230	230
1977	240	240
1978	260	333
1979	280	375
1980	300	417
1981	300	458
1982	300	500
1983	300	550
1984	300	580
1985	300	610
1986	300	650
1987	300	680
1988	300	700
1989	300	740
1990	$500	$780
1991	500	810
1992	500	850
1993	500	880
1994	500	930
1995	500	940
1996	500	960
1997	500	1,000
1998	500	1,050
1999	*700	1,110
2000	700	1,170
2001	740	1,240
2002	780	1,300
2003	800	1,330
2004	810	1,350
2005	$830	$1,380
2006	860	1,450
2007	900	1,500
2008	940	1,570
2009	980	1,640
2010	1,000	1,640
2011	1,000	1,640

^*$500 amount applied in the first half of 1999

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for the Self-Employee

There are three tests to evaluate SGA for a self-employed individual

To determine if the work performed by a self-employed individual is substantial Social Security applies three tests. Your work is substantial if you meet the criteria of either test one, two or three. The following are brief descriptions of each test.

Test One: Significant Services and Substantial Income

Your work activity is substantial if you perform services that are significant to the operation of your business, and if you receive a substantial income (see chart above); or

Test Two: Comparability of Work Activity

Your work activity is substantial if, in terms of all relevant factors such as hours, skills, energy output, efficiency, duties, and responsibilities, it is comparable to work of non-disabled individuals in the same community doing the same or similar business as their means of livelihood; or

Test Three: Worth of Work Activity

Your work activity is substantial if, although not comparable to that of non-disabled individuals, it is clearly worth more than the amount shown in the chart above when considered in terms of its effect on the business, or when compared to the salary an owner would pay to an employee for such duties in the same business.