If you receive Social Security disability benefits and work, two numbers matter: the substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount and the trial work period threshold. Both rise for 2027.
This guide gives the 2027 amounts, how they compare with 2026, what SGA and the trial work period mean and how the Social Security Administration sets them, from SSA's notice in the Federal Register of 26 October 2026.
| Amount | 2026 | 2027 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGA, non-blind person with a determined disability (titles II and XVI) | $1,690 | $1,770 | $80 |
| SGA, statutorily blind person (title II) | $2,830 | $2,950 | $120 |
| Trial work period month: earnings above | $1,210 | $1,270 | $60 |
The Social Security Administration (SSA) published these in its notice in the Federal Register on 26 October 2026. SGA means substantial gainful activity. The Increase column is our subtraction.
SSA says a finding of disability under titles II and XVI requires that a person be unable to engage in SGA (for a child with a disability determined under title XVI, not engaging in SGA). A person who is earning more than a certain monthly amount is ordinarily considered to be engaging in SGA, and the monthly earnings considered as SGA depend on the nature of the person's disability, which is why there are two amounts. The amount is a monthly figure: at $1,770 a month it comes to $21,240 over twelve months, and at $2,950 it is $35,400.
During a trial work period of 9 months in a rolling 60-month period, a beneficiary receiving Social Security disability benefits may test their ability to work and still receive monthly benefit payments. In 2027, any month in which earnings exceed $1,270 is considered a month of services for the trial work period. The notice states this earnings test only; it does not say how SSA treats self-employment or other kinds of work, so ask SSA about your own case.
| Monthly earnings in 2027 | Against the non-blind SGA amount ($1,770) | Against the trial work threshold ($1,270) |
|---|---|---|
| $1,200 | Below | Not above, so not a trial work month |
| $1,500 | Below | Above, so a trial work month |
| $1,800 | Above $1,770, ordinarily SGA | Above, so a trial work month |
These show how the published thresholds compare with example earnings; they are our illustrations, not SSA decisions. Whether any month actually counts depends on SSA's review of your earnings.
The blind SGA amount is set by the Social Security Act using the national average wage index (about $72,800.33 for 2025); the non-blind SGA amount and the trial work threshold increase under SSA regulations. For 2027 each is the larger of the indexed formula result or the 2026 amount, rounded to the nearest $10. The indexed results were $2,951.95 (blind), $1,765.69 (non-blind) and $1,266.31 (trial work), which round to $2,950, $1,770 and $1,270.
These thresholds decide how earnings affect disability benefits; they are separate from the retirement earnings test, which applies to people claiming retirement benefits early (see our Social Security earnings limit 2027 guide). The notice does not say whether the SGA test uses earnings before or after tax or how SSA counts work expenses, so ask SSA or a benefits counselor about your own case. The notice also confirms a 3.6% benefit increase from December 2026; see our 2027 COLA guide.
Social Security Administration: Cost-of-Living Increase and Other Determinations for 2027 (Federal Register, 26 October 2026), Federal Register official PDF (govinfo.gov), 91 FR 67380.