1. Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

• Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is the SSA’s measure of how much income demonstrates the ability to work.
• For 2025, the SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month, and for blind individuals, it is $2,590 per month.
• If you earn more than these limits, SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled and may stop your benefits.

2. The Trial Work Period (TWP)

SSDI provides a Trial Work Period (TWP) to encourage recipients to test their ability to return to work:

• You can earn any amount for up to 9 months within a rolling 60-month period without losing benefits
• For 2025, any month you earn over $1,110 counts as a TWP month
• After the 9-month TWP ends, SSA evaluates your earnings to determine continued eligibility

3. Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)

After your TWP, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), lasting 36 months:

• During this time, if your earnings remain below the SGA limit, you continue receiving benefits
• If your earnings exceed SGA, benefits may stop but can be reinstated without a new application if your income drops below SGA within this period

4. Reporting Work Activity

It’s crucial to report any work activity to SSA immediately, including:

• Start and end dates of employment
• Hours worked per week
• Gross monthly earnings
• Any changes in job duties or pay

Failing to report work activity can result in overpayments, benefit suspension, or penalties.

5. Work Incentives and Programs

SSA offers programs to support disabled individuals returning to work, such as:

• Ticket to Work: Provides employment support services without affecting benefits until SGA is exceeded
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): Allows deductions from your income for costs related to your disability that are necessary for work, helping you stay under SGA