“Everyone keeps saying ‘just stay under SGA’  –  but no one explains what that actually means.”

If you’re on SSDI and trying to earn money, you’ve probably heard this phrase more times than you can count:

“As long as you stay under SGA, you’re fine.”

Okay… but what counts toward SGA?

Is it:

• gross income or net?
• before or after expenses?
• gig work?
• self-employment?
• royalties?
• one good month?

And why does it feel like people confidently give answers that don’t match what SSA actually does?

Let’s slow this down and make it concrete.

First: what SGA actually is (and what it isn’t)

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is SSA’s way of answering one core question:

“Is this person working at a level we consider substantial?”

It is not:

• a judgment about effort
• a moral line
• a punishment threshold
• a moment-by-moment rule

It is:

• a monthly income benchmark
• used after certain SSDI work phases
• evaluated using patterns, not vibes

Analogy:
SGA is a speed limit, not a tripwire.
You don’t explode the second you touch it  –  but sustained speed above it matters.

The SGA numbers for 2026 (these matter)

For 2026, SGA is:

• $1,690/month for non-blind individuals
• $2,830/month for statutorily blind individuals

These amounts are based on gross earnings (before taxes).

This is one of the most misunderstood points.

When SGA actually matters (this is where people get confused)

SGA does not matter the same way at all times.

It matters:

• after your Trial Work Period is used
• during certain evaluation phases
• when SSA is determining continuing disability

That’s why someone can:

• earn above SGA for a short time and not lose benefits immediately
• or earn under SGA and still get questioned later

Timing + phase = everything.

Gross vs net income: the distinction that trips people up

If you are an employee (W-2):

SGA is based on gross wages.

If your paycheck says:

• $1,750 gross
• $1,200 after taxes

SSA looks at $1,750.

Analogy:
SSA reads the top line, not what hits your bank account.

If you are self-employed:

Now it gets more nuanced  –  and this is where most articles stop being helpful.

SSA may look at:

• net earnings
• hours worked
• the value of your work activity
• whether the business reflects substantial services

So it’s not just:

“Did you make under $1,690?”

It’s also:

“Are you actively running something that looks like ongoing work?”

That’s why two people with the same Etsy income can have different outcomes.

Real-life examples (the stuff people actually do)

Let’s walk through scenarios people ask about every day.

Gig work (Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Spark, Uber Eats)

This is earned income.

• It counts toward SGA
• It is tracked
• It is rarely “invisible”

Even if:

• you work only a few days a month
• you stop and start
• you think it’s “temporary”

Analogy:
Gig work is like a time-stamped receipt. It’s very legible to systems.

Etsy / online selling

Usually treated as self-employment.

SSA may consider:

• how often you list items
• whether sales are consistent
• how involved you are
• whether it looks like a business, not a garage clean-out

Even digital products can reflect ongoing work activity.

This is where “passive income” advice often goes wrong.

Writing a book / royalties (Amazon KDP)

This is one of the biggest myths online.

People say:

“Royalties don’t count as SGA.”

That is not automatically true.

SSA looks at:

• whether the royalties reflect ongoing work
• whether you are actively managing, promoting, updating, or producing content
• whether this income continues over time

Royalties can be treated as self-employment income and can count toward SGA depending on facts.

Your instinct  –  and your experience calling SSA  –  was correct.

Selling personal items

Occasional sales:

• often treated as conversion of personal property

Repeated, organized selling:

• can look like business activity

Analogy:
Selling your old couch ≠ running a resale operation.

Patterns matter.

The mistake most people make about SGA

They treat SGA like a single number instead of a system.

SSA doesn’t just ask:

“What did you make this month?”

They also ask:

• Is this recurring?
• Is this tied to work activity?
• Does this reflect capacity for sustained work?

That’s why people feel blindsided later.

It’s not retroactive punishment  –  it’s delayed evaluation.

Why “staying under SGA” isn’t a strategy by itself

You’ll hear people say:

“Just stay under SGA and you’re fine.”

That advice ignores:

• Trial Work Period usage
• Self-employment rules
• Reporting timing
• Pattern evaluation

Better strategy:

• predictable income
• clear records
• consistent reporting
• understanding when SGA matters

Boring beats clever every time.

What about SSI and SNAP?

Quick note:

• SSI is needs-based, so income affects payment amounts differently
• SNAP has its own income and reporting rules

SGA is an SSDI concept  –  but the same mistake happens across programs:
people assume labels protect them.

They don’t. Classification and patterns do.

What to read next

If this article raised more questions (that’s normal), the next logical reads are:

• Self-Employment Income on SSDI: How SSA Evaluates It
• Reporting Income: Timing Mistakes That Cause SSDI Problems
• What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

Important disclaimer (please read)

This article explains general SSDI rules for 2026.

Your outcome can change based on:

• your work phase
• self-employment details
• multiple benefits (SSI, SNAP, Medicaid)
• irregular income
• prior work attempts

Before making decisions that affect your benefits, talk with a benefits counselor.

Free benefits counseling is available

SSDI and SSI recipients can get help through SSA’s
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program.

📞 Ticket to Work Help Line: 1-866-968-7842
📞 TTY: 1-866-833-2967
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET

They can help you:

• understand how your income is counted
• plan work safely
• avoid problems months down the line