Income and Asset Limits for SSI in 2026
Substantial gainful activity, or SGA, is the earnings test that can end a disability claim before the medical review even begins. If your monthly earnings rise above the limit, the SSA generally concludes you are able to work and denies the claim. For 2026, the SGA limit is 1,690 dollars per month, or 2,830 dollars for applicants who are blind.
What SGA Actually Measures
SGA is meant to capture work that is both substantial, meaning it involves significant physical or mental effort, and gainful, meaning it is the kind of work usually done for pay. The SSA looks at your gross monthly earnings, not your take-home pay. This is the very first screen in the disability process, which we map out in the five-step sequential evaluation.
The 2026 SGA Limits
The thresholds adjust each year with national wage growth. For 2026 they are:
- Non-blind applicants: 1,690 dollars per month.
- Blind applicants: 2,830 dollars per month.
- Trial work period level: 1,210 dollars per month, used for beneficiaries testing a return to work.
Income That Does Not Count
Not every dollar counts toward SGA. The SSA excludes passive income such as interest, dividends, and rental income, along with VA benefits. It may also subtract impairment-related work expenses, which are costs you pay to be able to work because of your condition. Those exclusions can keep your countable earnings under the limit even when your paycheck looks higher, a strategy we explain in impairment-related work expenses and your benefits.
SGA After You Are Approved
The SGA rule does not disappear once benefits begin. If you return to work and earn above the limit after your protected work-incentive periods, your benefits can stop. The trial work period and extended period of eligibility give you room to test working first, which we cover in the SSDI trial work period explained.
The Bottom Line
SGA is a hard earnings line that can decide a claim on its own, so applicants should understand the 2026 limit of 1,690 dollars and how countable earnings are figured. This article is general information and not legal advice. Because these amounts change each year, confirm the current figures with the SSA before acting on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 SGA limit?
For 2026, the substantial gainful activity limit is 1,690 dollars per month for non-blind applicants and 2,830 dollars for those who are blind.
Does all income count toward SGA?
No. The SSA excludes passive income such as interest, dividends, and VA benefits, and it may subtract impairment-related work expenses from your countable earnings.
Sources
- SSA Red Book, What’s New in 2026, SSA.gov
- Social Security Administration, Substantial Gainful Activity, SSA.gov
- SSA Program Operations Manual System (POMS): DI 10501, SSA.gov