Still Working? Read this post first...

"I am working but have severe medical impairments, can I apply?" The very first step of the five-step Disability Evaluation Process asks whether a person is engaging in "substantial gainful activity” (SGA), i.e. whether they are working and making over a certain amount of money. If the person is working and making over that "SGA" amount, they are generally found to be NOT disabled, and the evaluation stops, go no farther. This is generally true no matter how severe the individual’s impairments are. If the person is not working, or is making under that SGA amount, then the analysis proceeds to the next step. The substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit for 2026 is $1,690 gross per month (before taxes are taken out). If you are making over $1,690 gross per month in 2026, generally speaking you will be found not disabled (some very limited exceptions apply, i.e. if a person is legally blind (both eyes), requires impairment related work expenses in order to a job, etc.).