SGA stands for substantial gainful employment. If a claimant is capable of performing substantial gainful employment, they will not be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits.
Special rules apply to statutorily blind individuals. However, all other disability, excluding blindness, for the year 2011 defines SGA as $1,000.00 per month. This means that if someone’s average earnings are more than $1,000.00 per month, they are capable of substantial gainful employment and, by definition, are not disabled under Social Security rules.
This means that if someone does have earnings but those earnings are less than the SGA amount, they may still qualify for benefits.
