Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
The SGA amount for persons with disabilities other than blindness is $1,550 per month in 2024. For persons who are blind, the amount of earnings that indicate SGA is $2,590 per month in 2024. Further information is available in the section How We Decide If You Are Disabled.
In 2025, we consider earnings over $1,620 ($2,700 if you're blind) to be substantial. No new application or disability decision is needed to receive a Social Security disability benefit during this period. Expedited Reinstatement — Your benefits may stop because of substantial earnings.
You can return to work for at least 9 months and still get your full Disability payment. We call this a “trial work period.” In 2025, any month you earn over $1,160 before taxes will count towards this trial. The months don't need to be consecutive, just within a rolling 5-year period.
For 2024, the SGA limit is set at $1,550 per month. This means that if you earn more than $1,550 a month, you might not be eligible for SSDI or SSI disability benefits. The SSA checks your earnings to make sure they don't go over this limit.
The COLA was 3.2% in 2024. Nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.5% COLA beginning in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2024. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI payments).
Yes. People who get SSDI can work and keep their full SSDI check if they stay under substantial gainful activity .
In 2024, the amount of substantial earnings in covered employment or self-employment needed for a year of coverage (YOC) is $31,275. This amount is adjusted annually by the growth in average wages in the economy, provided a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is payable.
No, your disability benefits will continue until you hit your full Social Security retirement age, which is between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year. When you reach your full retirement age, your SSDI benefits will automatically transition to Social Security retirement benefits.
The monthly cost of living adjustment (COLA) for those receiving Social Security will increase by 2.5% in 2025. Adjusting benefits to account for inflation and rising living costs is essential. For individuals on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, some changes include a slight increase in monthly benefits.
In general, how many hours you work while on SSDI does not matter too much. For most employed people, the SSA will look at your monthly income instead.
If your spouse dies, do you get both Social Security benefits? You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement. If you qualify for both survivor and retirement benefits, you will receive whichever amount is higher.
Earnings Limits: For individuals who receive benefits but continue to work, the annual earnings limit has increased. The new threshold for individuals under full retirement age is $62,160.
There is no set age at which reviews stop entirely, however, once you hit full retirement age, which varies but is usually between 66 and 67 for most, your SSDI benefits will automatically convert to retirement benefits, and those don't undergo continuing disability reviews.
The maximum monthly benefits for SSI, SSDI, and retirement in 2024: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – The maximum payment is $943 monthly for individuals and $1,415 monthly for couples. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – The maximum payment is $3,822 a month (up from $3,627 in 2023).
Receiving SSI and SSDI while working
But the benefit amount you receive may be reduced depending on how much money you earn from your job. As of 2024, you may stop receiving SSDI benefits if you earn over $1,550 a month.
Provisional Income The level of income that is used to determine whether a taxpayer is liable for tax on his or her Social Security benefits. in 2024 is $3,822.
None of your SSDI is taxable if half of your SSDI plus all your other income is less than: $25,000 if filing single, head of household, or married filing separately (if you and your spouse lived apart at all times during the year) $32,000 if married filing jointly.
However, provided your total income (including disability payments) does not reach more than $1,470 a month, or $2,460 if you are blind, you may be able to earn extra money in one of the following ways: Selling items on Etsy or eBay; Holding yard sales or selling objects at local flea markets.
Overall, however, the most approved disability for Social Security is disabilities involving the musculoskeletal system and/or connective tissues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such conditions include arthritis, back pain, and lupus.
To qualify to get $144 added back to your Social Security check, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers a Part B premium reduction or giveback benefit.
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.