What is “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) and how does it relate to Social Security Disability?
Substantial gainful activity (SGA) is a term used by the Social Security Administration to refer to the amount of income a disability beneficiary can earn without losing access to Social Security Disability benefits. In Pennsylvania, applicants for Social Security Disability must be unable to engage in SGA. In order to be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits for an extended period of time, applicants must prove that they are unable to perform substantial gainful activity due to disability. Substantial gainful activity is defined as any physical or mental work for pay or profit, or any activity in which pay or profit is derived. The Social Security Administration sets an annual figure as the maximum amount of income an applicant may earn and still be considered disabled. This amount is known as the “Substantial Gainful Activity” (SGA) threshold, and it changes each year. For 2021, the SGA amount is $1,310 per month for non-blind applicants and $2,190 per month for blind applicants. If an applicant earns more than the SGA threshold in any given year, the Social Security Administration will generally consider them as being capable of working at the substantial gainful activity level and will deny benefits. This is why it is important for those applying for Social Security Disability benefits in Pennsylvania to understand and comply with the SGA threshold.
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