Click To Call Many disability claimants are confused about whether they can work on a part-time basis or volunteer. Well, like everything else, Social Security has specific guidelines about working while receiving disability insurance benefits or SSI (supplemental security income). Learn more here.

Rules for Substantial Gainful Activity if you are self-employed

The term substantial gainful activity (SGA) is used by the Social Security Administration to describe a level of work activity and earnings.

Your work activity is considered SGA if:

  • You rendered significant services to the business, and you earned over the SGA level ($980 in 2009); or
  • Your work is comparable to the work of individuals without a disability who are working in the same or similar businesses; or
  • Your average monthly work is worth the SGA level earnings in its effects on the business, or when compared to what you would have to pay an employee to do the work.

The amount the business earns, even if the company does not make a profit, is also taken into consideration.

Special SGA rules for blind self-employed individuals

If your disability is blindness, the criteria are:

  • You received a substantial income from the business; and
  • You rendered significant services to the business.


If your disability is blindness and you are over 55, the criteria are:

  • Your work requires a lower level of skill and ability than the work you did before age 55, or when you became blind, whichever is later; and
  • Your benefits are suspended, not terminated.

This distinction between suspending benefit rather than terminating them is important because your eligibility for SSDI benefits continues indefinitely.

Social Security will pay you benefits for any months your earnings fall below SGA and you do not have to re-apply for benefits.

For work activity to be substantial, it does not need to be performed
on a full-time basis
**Work activity performed on a part-time basis may also be substantial gainful activity.**

If you are earning more than $980 a month, it is presumed you are performing substantial gainful activity and would not be entitled to disability benefits.

If you are blind, the limit is $1640 monthly.


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