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Glossary

Substantial gainful activity (SGA)

Work that earns enough money to be considered significant employment for government benefits purposes.

Substantial gainful activity (SGA) is the term the Social Security Administration uses to describe work that counts as "real" employment. It matters for programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

If you earn more than a certain monthly amount—[VERIFY: current SGA earnings threshold]—Social Security considers you to be working at a substantial gainful level. This can affect whether you qualify for disability benefits or how much you receive.

The exact earnings threshold changes each year. Even if you work part-time or earn money in other ways, if your total monthly earnings stay below the SGA threshold, Social Security may still consider you unable to work.

This rule applies specifically to disability programs. Other benefits programs like SNAP or Medicaid have their own income rules and don't use the SGA definition.

Programs where this matters

SSISocial Security AdministrationSSI pays monthly cash to people with limited income and resources who are older, blind or have a disability.SSDISocial Security AdministrationSSDI pays monthly benefits to people who cannot work because of a disability and who have worked and paid Social Security taxes.