What is ‘Substantial Gainful Activity’?

You may have heard the term “substantial gainful activity” or “SGA” used in conjunction with a Social Security case. So, what does that mean? Simply put, it’s a way of putting a very specific definition on the word “work”. Whenever Social Security is deciding your case, the very first question they ask is whether you are “working.” However, what they really want and need to know is whether you are performing “substantial gainful activity.” For the year 2011, substantial gainful activity is defined as earning at least $1,000 per month gross. It is important to recognize the difference between simple “work” and “substantial gainful activity” because it can make a big difference in your case. If you have specific questions about working and substantial gainful activity as they relate to your Social Security disability case, an experienced Social Security disability attorney can help.