2016
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,130 per month
- SGA, blind
- $1,820 per month
- Trial work period
- $810 per month
SSA Disability Resource Guide
SSA resources / Additional guides / Substantial Gainful Activity Amounts by Year
Substantial Gainful Activity Amounts by Year
Substantial gainful activity (SGA) is a work-and-earnings standard SSA uses when deciding whether a person is disabled. For 2026, the monthly guideline is $1,690 for a person who is not statutorily blind and $2,830 for a person who is statutorily blind. SSA updates these amounts; confirm the figure for the year you are asking about.
This page provides general information about Social Security Administration rules. It is not medical or legal advice and does not determine whether any person qualifies for benefits.
SSA annual thresholds
Monthly amounts, 2016–2026
Amounts are monthly. The trial work period (TWP) column applies to qualifying SSDI beneficiaries; it is not an SSI work rule.
| Year | SGA, nonblind | SGA, blind | TWP trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $1,130 | $1,820 | $810 |
| 2017 | $1,170 | $1,950 | $840 |
| 2018 | $1,180 | $1,970 | $850 |
| 2019 | $1,220 | $2,040 | $880 |
| 2020 | $1,260 | $2,110 | $910 |
| 2021 | $1,310 | $2,190 | $940 |
| 2022 | $1,350 | $2,260 | $970 |
| 2023 | $1,470 | $2,460 | $1,050 |
| 2024 | $1,550 | $2,590 | $1,110 |
| 2025 | $1,620 | $2,700 | $1,160 |
| 2026 | $1,690 | $2,830 | $1,210 |
2017
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,170 per month
- SGA, blind
- $1,950 per month
- Trial work period
- $840 per month
2018
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,180 per month
- SGA, blind
- $1,970 per month
- Trial work period
- $850 per month
2019
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,220 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,040 per month
- Trial work period
- $880 per month
2020
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,260 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,110 per month
- Trial work period
- $910 per month
2021
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,310 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,190 per month
- Trial work period
- $940 per month
2022
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,350 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,260 per month
- Trial work period
- $970 per month
2023
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,470 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,460 per month
- Trial work period
- $1,050 per month
2024
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,550 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,590 per month
- Trial work period
- $1,110 per month
2025
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,620 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,700 per month
- Trial work period
- $1,160 per month
2026
- SGA, nonblind
- $1,690 per month
- SGA, blind
- $2,830 per month
- Trial work period
- $1,210 per month
SSA may update these amounts annually. Confirm the applicable amount and rules for the period being evaluated.
How to read the yearly amounts
The SGA figures are monthly guidelines, not benefit amounts. In 2026, multiplying the monthly figures by 12 gives $20,280 for nonblind SGA and $33,960 for blind SGA as simple annual equivalents. SSA applies its work rules to monthly work activity; an annual total is not a separate annual SGA test. Part-time work can count as SGA if the work and countable earnings meet the applicable rules.
The trial work period (TWP) column is a separate SSDI work incentive. In 2026, $1,210 in monthly earnings can make a month count as a TWP service month. The TWP does not apply to SSI, and it generally concerns people who already receive qualifying Social Security disability benefits—not people applying for the first time.
SSA does not always count gross pay at face value
SSA evaluates work activity and countable earnings. Depending on the facts, it may consider impairment-related work expenses, subsidies, special conditions, unsuccessful work attempts, and whether fluctuating earnings should be averaged. Keep pay stubs and records of work supports or expenses, and report work activity as required. An amount above the guideline is important, but it does not answer every SGA question by itself.
Self-employment is evaluated under different rules. SSA may consider whether you perform significant services and have substantial income, whether your work is comparable to that of unimpaired people in similar businesses, or whether the work is clearly worth the SGA amount or the value of an employee doing it. The applicable test depends on the claim and the period being evaluated.
2026 amounts at a glance
- Nonblind SGA: $1,690 per month ($20,280 as a simple 12-month equivalent).
- Blind SGA: $2,830 per month ($33,960 as a simple 12-month equivalent).
- Trial work period service-month guideline: $1,210 per month for SSDI.
- The blind SGA guideline applies to qualifying Social Security disability claims; it is not an SSI SGA rule.
Official SSA sources
Related resources
This page provides general information about Social Security Administration rules. It is not medical or legal advice and does not determine whether any person qualifies for benefits.