To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must demonstrate that you are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity. Substantial gainful activity is a measurement used by the Social Security Administration to determine the amount of work you are able to perform.
Your measure of substantial gainful activity will vary with the severity of your disability. If you are blind your measure of substantial gainful activity may be slightly higher than someone who is paralyzed.
When calculating your substantial gain activity, the Social Security Administration also factors in where you live through the national average wage index in order to reflect different costs of living nationwide. Typically you demonstrate substantial gainful activity when you earn more than a certain monthly amount.
The monthly substantial gainful activity amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2025 is $2,700. For non-blind individuals, the monthly SGA amount for 2025 is $1,620. If you are blind and are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits substantial gainful activity will not be a factor in your Social Security Disability claim.
