Substantial Gainful Activity Level for 2015
To be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, a person must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). A person earning more than a certain amount of money per month is considered to be engaging in substantial gainful activity, and thus, not eligible for Social Security Disability. The yearly SGA amount generally changes in correlation to a change in the national average wage index. Also, the Social Security Act requires a higher SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals over non-blind individuals.
For 2015, the monthly SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals is $1,820. For non-blind individuals, the monthly SGA amount is $1,090. The Social Security Act also allows a person, who is eligible for disability benefits, to make over SGA level for a certain time period in order to encourage individuals to try and reenter the work force. This trial period is for 3 months and is called an unsuccessful work attempt. If an individual makes over SGA level for less than three months, the individual will not be considered to have been engaging in substantial gainful activity for that time period.
To learn more about substantial gainful activity and your possible eligibility for Social Security disability benefits, contact an experienced Social Security disability attorney at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. today at 251-343-1111 for a free case evaluation. Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. represents Social Security disability claimants in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana at all levels of the disability process from initial application to appeals to Federal Court.