1. Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

• SGA refers to work activity that involves significant physical or mental effort and earns above a certain amount.
• If your monthly earnings exceed the SGA limit—and they’re not part of a protected work incentive program—the Social Security Administration (SSA) may determine you're capable of working, which can affect your eligibility for SSDI.

2. SGA Limits for 2025

These income limits apply nationwide, including Ohio:

• $1,620 per month for individuals who are not legally blind
• $2,700 per month for those who are legally blind

3. Income That Counts Toward SGA

Your gross earnings count toward the SGA limit, including:

• Wages before deductions
• Net income from self-employment
• Commissions, tips, or bonuses

However, some expenses related to your disability that you pay out-of-pocket—called Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)—may be deducted and reduce your countable earnings.

4. Work Incentives That Protect Benefits

To help SSDI recipients return to work safely, SSA offers work incentive programs:

• Trial Work Period (TWP)
• Allows you to earn any amount for nine months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month period without loss of benefits
• In 2025, any month with earnings over $1,110 counts as one TWP month
• Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
• Follows your TWP and lasts 36 months
• During this time, SSDI benefits continue in any month your earnings stay below the SGA limit
• If you exceed SGA in a given month, benefits may be suspended—but can resume automatically if earnings drop below the limit again within the 36-month window

5. What Happens If You Exceed SGA After These Periods

If you earn above the SGA limit after completing both TWP and EPE, your SSDI benefits may be suspended or terminated. However, Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) allows you to quickly resume benefits without filing a new claim, provided your disability worsens and you reapply within five years.