# What is substantial gainful activity?

The SSA updates SGA figures annually based on the national average wage index. Earnings above SGA generally show that a person is not disabled under the SSA's definition, though some deductions (impairment-related work expenses, subsidies) can lower countable earnings.

**Direct answer:** Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is the SSA's monthly earnings threshold used to decide whether someone is working at a level that disqualifies them from SSDI — $1,690 per month for non-blind recipients in 2026, and $2,830 per month for statutorily blind recipients.

## What are the 2026 SGA amounts?
$1,690/month for non-blind recipients and $2,830/month for statutorily blind recipients.

   
## Does SGA include all earnings?
Not always — impairment-related work expenses and employer subsidies can reduce countable earnings below the gross amount.

## Sources
- SSA — Substantial Gainful Activity — https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html

## Related questions
- [Can I work while on SSDI?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/can-i-work-while-on-ssdi)
- [How often is SSDI reviewed?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/how-often-is-ssdi-reviewed)
## Topics
- Substantial Gainful Activity — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-substantial-gainful-activity
- SSDI — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/ssdi

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