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Dallas Disability Lawyer: A Closer Look at Substantial Gainful Activity

The Social Security Administration (SSA) states that to be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, you must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). But what is substantial gainful activity?

Very generally, substantial gainful activity is just a fancy way to say the word “work.” If you are unable to work at all, or if you are not able to work enough to earn a substantial amount of income, you are eligible for disability benefits. Taking a closer look, the SSA defines SGA as:

1. Work that involves significant and productive duties, and
   
2. Work that results in a certain monthly income.
   

It is important to note that even if you are no longer employable in your field due to your disability, you still may be able to find a substantial gainful activity to support yourself – and that just because you can’t continue doing your job, you may not be eligible for disability.

In addition, it is important to understand that the SSA also offers a trial work period to those already on disability that allows them to attempt to return to work while still receiving benefits for a window of time. This trial work period can last up to nine months over a 60-month period.

Substantial Gainful Activity amounts for 2012

The monthly limit for substantial gainful activity differs according to the national average wage index and generally goes up slightly from year to year. In 2012, the monthly SGA limit is $1,010 for disabled individuals and $1,690 for individuals who are blind.

While in-kind payments such as room and board are included in these amounts, work expenses are subtracted from your income.

Get legal help from a Texas disability benefits attorney

If you have questions about your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits, about how to file an appeal after a disability benefits denial, or about how substantial gainful activity could affect your disability payments, you may wish to speak to an experienced lawyer. The Dallas Social Security attorneys at Morgan & Weisbrod offer the disabled a free, private consultation. Call us today.