What Is Substantial Gainful Activity?

HOW SGA SHAPES Whether You Can Get Social Security Disability in Michiana

Substantial gainful activity (SGA) is an income limit Social Security uses to help determine whether you can qualify for disability benefits.

You must be unable to work to get disability, and SGA is how Social Security measures whether you can work enough to support yourself, which to them means you don’t need financial assistance.

Social Security typically adjusts the limit every year, setting how much you can earn in a month from work before losing eligibility for benefits. In 2026, they set the income threshold at $1,690 for most individuals and $2,830 for people with blindness.

But it’s not as simple as staying under that limit. Like everything else with Social Security Disability, the SGA threshold is more complicated than you might expect.

Having too much monthly income, or doing any work that Social Security sees as a sign you could work more, is one of the reasons you may be denied disability benefits.

In South Bend, Elkhart and across Michiana, talk to a disability lawyer who understands these rules and can guide you as you appeal your disability denial.

Winning Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is difficult. Trying to do it while you’re still working is even more complicated.

If your disability claim has been denied, The Morgan Law Firm can help. We’ve helped thousands of people in Michiana win the benefits that they deserve.

SSDI or SSI payments can make a huge difference in your life, so don’t leave your claim to chance by relying on a big national firm where you may not even meet with your lawyer until the day of your disability hearing.

Indiana disability lawyer Anne Morgan and her team will treat your claim with the personal attention and dedication it deserves.

And you won’t pay an attorney fee until you win benefits.

HOW DOES SOCIAL SECURITY Calculate SGA?

If you’re working while trying to get disability benefits, you need to understand that the Social Security Administration (SSA) isn’t just focused on whether your take-home pay exceeds its SGA limits.

It’s your gross pay that matters, before any deductions or taxes are taken out of your paycheck. So even if you take home less than their monthly limit for the year, you could be over SGA limits if your gross pay is too high.

You also need to factor in other compensation from your job, like tips, bonuses, and the value of employee benefits.

There’s another complication, but this one could work in your favor.

Social Security acknowledges that there are potential costs of working with a disability, and some of those expenses can be deducted from your SGA calculation.

The first consideration is any workplace accommodation you need to do your job. These are considered a subsidy, paid by your employer, and they can affect how the Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your income.

Extra paid breaks or a reduced workload are both examples of this.

The second consideration is impairment-related work expenses (IRWEs). Unlike workplace accommodations, which your employer pays for, IRWEs are your own out-of-pocket expenses from working with a medical condition.

Examples of IRWEs include:

Specialized transportation needs, like vehicle modifications, so you can get to work
Adaptive technology or software you need for your position
Prescription medications and other treatments you need to function in your job
Medical devices you need to do your job, like prosthetics, hearing aids or mobility aids

SGA calculations can get complicated. Improperly reporting your earnings or these possible deductions causes issues.

Consult a Michiana disability lawyer to see how work you do affects your disability claim.

Start with a FREE case consultation.

Why SGA Matters for Social Security Disability Claims

If you’re working while applying for disability benefits, substantial gainful activity rules and limitations will complicate your claim.

If you work too much and exceed this threshold, that obviously causes issues. But even working and earning close to the SGA limit can make it difficult to qualify for disability benefits.

Your claim could be denied if you don’t earn much money, but you work long hours. Even volunteer work could impact your claim if Social Security thinks the work is physically or mentally demanding.

If a claims examiner sees that you’re working in some capacity, they may think you can work more, or work in a more challenging role. If you can work more, Social Security reasons you should do that instead of receiving benefits.

If you were working while you applied for benefits and your Social Security Disability claim was denied, that’s not the end of the road.

An experienced disability attorney can help you figure out why your claim was denied and how to make your case to Social Security on appeal.

The Morgan Law Firm can help you show you still deserve benefits even though you work a limited amount.

We can take a closer look at your workplace accommodations and IRWEs to show you aren’t exceeding SGA limits.

Our team can also identify additional evidence that can strengthen your SSI or SSDI claim, and keep your claim moving through the process.

Wanting to work while you struggle with health issues is admirable. It may feel essential to provide for your basic needs. Working a small amount shouldn’t disqualify you from disability benefits that could give you financial independence and peace of mind.

South Bend disability lawyer Anne Morgan and her team are ready to fight for you, like we’ve fought for thousands of clients in South Bend, Elkhart, Niles, and across Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

Don’t give up if you’ve been denied Social Security Disability benefits.

WHAT IS SUBSTANTIAL
GAINFUL ACTIVITY
(SGA)?

Fill out this form for help with your disability benefits

HOW SGA SHAPES Whether You Can Get Social Security Disability in Michiana

HOW DOES SOCIAL SECURITY Calculate SGA?

Why SGA Matters for Social Security Disability Claims