Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is the amount of money you can earn from wages and still be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The SGA amount is important for two classes of people:
A person applying for disability benefits must have (or be expected to have) a period of 12 consecutive months with wages below…
It is not exactly news, since it was announced months ago, but it is worth noting at the beginning of the new year that the substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount for 2011 will remain at $1,000 per month for non-blind individuals. Here are the SGA amounts since 1975.
The SGA determination is step 1…
The substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount for 2010 is $1,000 per month. You can see the SGA amounts since 1975 here.
The SGA determination is step 1 of Social Security's 5-step sequential evaluation. For Social Security disability or SSI, you must have (or expect to have) a 12-month period during which you do not have…
The SSA published its annual fact sheet last week. The SSA's official acknowledgement that there would be no COLA next year got most of the attention. However, there will be a new SGA amount for 2010. The new SGA amount will be $1,000 per month.
Finally, a number that is easy to divide!
A reader of this site had this question: should i still appeal my ssdi denial if i did not meet the sga requirement?
The answer is: probably not, but maybe yes. Let's take a look at each part of the answer.
Probably not: If you are working above the level of substantial gainful activity (SGA)…
I usually stick to practical advice, here at the Social Security Disability Lawyer blog. However, I read an interesting post, published recently by Charles Hall, Esq. on his blog Social Security News, stating that the issue of substantial gainful activity (SGA) has become just too complicated. Mr. Hall says:
Basically, if one is engaging in
…
If you have monthly earnings above the level of substantial gainful activity, it is problematic for your disability or SSI benefits.
For 2008, the SGA amount is $940. Earnings over that monthly amount can present real challeges to receiving benefits. Depending upon the circumstances, you can be denied benefits (or the benefits you receive…
If you have worked at the SGA level at any time since the alleged onset date of your Social Security disability claim, it can be problematic for your claim. You must have a 12 month period of disability (or a condition which is expected to result in death) to qualify for Social Security disability. That…
Being disabled means you can't work. Step 1 of Social Security's 5-step sequential evaluation process is a determination of whether or not you are working. To make that determination, Social Security looks at whether you are engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA). If you are an employee and a making more than this amount each…
