Substantial gainful activity is work performed for pay above a certain earning level. If you are working and have earnings above a certain level, your social security disability claim cannot be approved regardless of the severity of your medical condition. The amount of monthly earnings that SSA considers depends on the nature of the person's disability. The SGA amount is higher for statutorily blind individuals, and less for non-blind individuals. The amount changes from year to year. See chart below.
Monthly substantial gainful activity amounts by disability type
Year
Blind
Non-blind
1975
$200
$200
1976
230
230
1977
240
240
1978
334
260
1979
375
280
1980
417
300
1981
459
300
1982
500
300
1983
550
300
1984
580
300
1985
610
300
1986
650
300
1987
680
300
1988
700
300
1989
740
300
Year
Blind
Non-blind
1990
$780
$500
1991
810
500
1992
850
500
1993
880
500
1994
930
500
1995
940
500
1996
960
500
1997
1,000
500
1998
1,050
500
1999
1,110
700a
2000
1,170
700
2001
1,240
740
2002
1,300
780
2003
1,330
800
2004
1,350
810
Year
Blind
Non-blind
2005
$1,380
$830
2006
1,450
860
2007
1,500
900
2008
1,570
940
2009
1,640
980
2010
1,640
1,000
2011
1,640
1,000
2012
1,690
1,010
2013
1,740
1,040
2014
1,800
1,070
2015
1,820
1,090
2016
1,820
1,130
2017
1,950
1,170
a $500 amount applied in the first half of 1999.
As you can see, the monthly SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2017 is $1950. For non-blind individuals, the monthly SGA amount is $1170. If you have earnings above this level, you cannot qualify for disability benefits because SSA will rule that you are working. This issue comes up time and time again when I speak with clients. It is a difficult thing to accept, but SSA will not even consider your medical impairments if you are earning above these limits. (see: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html).If you have questions about how your earnings affect your claim for disability benefits, give me a call at 407-738-3718. I'll be happy to discuss whether you could potentially be eligible for disability benefits.