Contents
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
- Trial Work Period
- Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
- Impact of Work Incentives on SGA Determination
- SGA Determination Process
- Extended Medicare Coverage (Pre TWWIIA)
- Extended Medicare Coverage Under TWWIIAA
- TWWIIA Extended Medicare Coverage Decision Tree
- Final Comments
- Practice Quiz
- Final Quiz
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) means the performance of significant physical and/or mental activities in work for pay or profit, or in work of a type generally performed for pay or profit, regardless of the legality of the work. SSA evaluates the work activity of persons claiming or receiving disability benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and/or claiming benefits because of a disability (other than blindness) under Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under both programs, SSA uses earnings guidelines to evaluate work activity to decide whether the work activity is substantial gainful activity and whether the individual is considered disabled under the law.
To be eligible for disability benefits, a person must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). A person who is earning more than a certain monthly amount (net of impairment-related work expenses) is ordinarily considered to be engaging in SGA. The amount of monthly earnings considered as SGA depends on the nature of a person's disability. The Social Security Act specifies a higher SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals; Federal regulations specify a lower SGA amount for non-blind individuals. Both SGA amounts generally change with changes in the national average wage index.
Amounts for 2022
The monthly SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2022 is $2260. For non-blind individuals, the monthly SGA amount for 2022 is $1350. SGA for the blind does not apply to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, while SGA for the non-blind disabled applies to Social Security and SSI benefits. See historical series of SGA amounts below.
Trial work period
After a person becomes eligible for disability benefits, the person may attempt to return to the work force. As an incentive, we provide a trial work period in which a beneficiary may have earnings and still collect benefits.
| Year | Blind ($) | Non-Blind ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 200 | 200 |
| 1976 | 230 | 230 |
| 1977 | 240 | 240 |
| 1978 | 334 | 260 |
| 1979 | 375 | 280 |
| 1980 | 417 | 300 |
| 1981 | 459 | 300 |
| 1982 | 500 | 300 |
| 1983 | 550 | 300 |
| 1984 | 580 | 300 |
| 1985 | 610 | 300 |
| 1986 | 650 | 300 |
| 1987 | 680 | 300 |
| 1988 | 700 | 300 |
| 1989 | 740 | 300 |
| 1990 | 780 | 500 |
| 1991 | 810 | 500 |
| 1992 | 850 | 500 |
| 1993 | 880 | 500 |
| 1994 | 930 | 500 |
| 1995 | 940 | 500 |
| 1996 | 960 | 500 |
| 1997 | 1,000 | 500 |
| 1998 | 1,050 | 500 |
| 1999 | 1,110 | 700a |
| 2000 | 1,170 | 700 |
| 2001 | 1,240 | 740 |
| 2002 | 1,300 | 780 |
| 2003 | 1,330 | 800 |
| 2004 | 1,350 | 810 |
| 2005 | 1,380 | 830 |
| 2006 | 1,450 | 860 |
| 2007 | 1,500 | 900 |
| 2008 | 1,570 | 940 |
| 2009 | 1,640 | 980 |
| 2010 | 1,640 | 1,000 |
| 2011 | 1,640 | 1,000 |
| 2012 | 1,690 | 1,010 |
| 2013 | 1,740 | 1,040 |
| 2014 | 1,800 | 1,070 |
| 2015 | 1,820 | 1,090 |
| 2016 | 1,820 | 1,130 |
| 2017 | 1,950 | 1,170 |
| 2018 | 1,970 | 1,180 |
| 2019 | 2,040 | 1,220 |
| 2020 | 1,260 | 2,110 |
| 2021 | 1,310 | 2,190 |
| 2022 | 1,350 | 2,260 |
| Year | Monthly earnings ($) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 940 |
| 2022 | 970 |
Previous Back to Top Next