Contents
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
- Trial Work Period
- Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
- Impact of Work Incentives on SGA Determination
- Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
- Subsidies and Special Conditions
- Unsucessful Work Attempt
- Averaging
- SGA Determination Process
- Extended Medicare Coverage (Pre TWWIIA)
- Extended Medicare Coverage Under TWWIIAA
- TWWIIA Extended Medicare Coverage Decision Tree
- Final Comments
- Practice Quiz
- Final Quiz
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) means the performance of significant physical and/or mental activities in work for pay or profit, or in work of a type generally performed for pay or profit, regardless of the legality of the work. SSA evaluates the work activity of persons claiming or receiving disability benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and/or claiming benefits because of a disability (other than blindness) under Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under both programs, SSA uses earnings guidelines to evaluate work activity to decide whether the work activity is substantial gainful activity and whether the individual is considered disabled under the law.
If the individual’s average monthly countable earnings (taking into consideration any work incentives) are more than the SGA amount (i.e. $810 per month for non-blind individual in 2004 and $1,350 for blind individuals), the individual has engaged in SGA. If the individual’s average monthly countable earnings are equal to or less than the SGA amount, then generally the individual has not engaged in SGA.
NOTE: For Title II beneficiaries, SSA counts the gross monthly income earned in the calendar month, rather than what was received, based on pay dates.
It is important to note that prior to January of 2001 the $700 non-blind SGA level established in July of 1999 was not automatically adjusted annually as was the case for individuals who were blind. Effective January 2001, SSA eliminated the secondary SGA level of $300 and began adjusting annually the SGA amount for people with impairments other than blindness. The guideline would be the larger of the previous year's amount or an increased amount based on the Social Security national average wage index. Table 1 highlights the changes in the SGA amount over the years.
Table 1: Substantial Gainful Activity Amounts |
|
| 2004 | $810 |
| 2003 | $800 |
| 2001 | $740 |
| 2000 | $700 |
| 7 to 12/1999 | $700 |
| 1 to 6/1999 | $500 |
| 1990 to 1998 | $500 |
| 1980 to 1989 | $300 |
| 1979 | $280 |
| 1978 | $260 |
| 1977 | $240 |
| 1976 | $230 |
| Prior to 1976 | $200 |
For years beginning 1978, if a person is blind, the law provides different earnings guidelines for determining SGA. The SGA amounts for blind people are:
| 2004 | $1350 |
| 2003 | $1330 |
| 2002 | $1300 |
| 2001 | $1240 |
| 2000 | $1170 |
| 1999 | $1110 |
| 1998 | $1050 |
| 1997 | $1000 |
| 1996 | $960 |
| 1995 | $940 |
| 1994 | $930 |
| 1993 | $880 |
| 1992 | $850 |
| 1991 | $810 |
| 1990 | $780 |
| 1989 | $740 |
| 1988 | $700 |
| 1987 | $680 |
| 1986 | $650 |
| 1985 | $610 |
| 1984 | $580 |
| 1983 | $550 |
| 1982 | $500 |
| 1981 | $459 |
| 1980 | $417 |
| 1979 | $375 |
| 1978 | $334 |
Previous Back to Top Next
