Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits typically aren’t meant to continue indefinitely. Unless a person has a medical condition that is not expected to improve or will eventually be fatal, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will likely require updated information from the recipient about their condition and their ability to return to work.
That work doesn’t have to involve the same job or even the same industry as their work prior to becoming disabled. If a person does return to work in any capacity, they are required to notify SSDI immediately.
Many people are concerned about doing this if the only job they’re able to do pays much less than their previous one did. They’re often afraid that their benefits will end and they won’t be able to support themselves. That’s where “substantial gainful activity” or SGA comes into play.
How substantial gainful activity is defined
According to the SSA, “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.”
That amount is adjusted each year based on the national average wage index. This year, the minimum monthly SGA income for non-blind individuals is $1,690. For those considered “statutorily blind,” it is $2,830.
If a person earns enough to meet the SGA threshold, they no longer qualify for SSDI benefits. If they’re able to work but not reach that threshold, they can continue to receive their full benefits — assuming their medical condition is legitimately preventing them from reaching that threshold.
What’s a “trial work period?”
Often, someone receiving SSDI can’t know whether they’ll be able to do a particular job on a regular basis until they try. That’s why the SSA allows them to engage in a “trial work period” of nine months. These don’t have to be consecutive, but they must be over no more than five years. In 2026, monthly earnings of $1,210 trigger a trial work period.
No government program is easy to navigate. When a person is dealing with SSDI (as well as possibly Supplemental Security Income or SSI and maybe transitioning to Social Security retirement benefits), it’s critical not to lose benefits due to a paperwork error, lack of documentation or failure to notify the SSA of a change. Having experienced legal guidance can help people to better ensure that they continue to receive benefits for as long as they’re entitled to have them.