What is “Substantial Gainful Activity”?
The term substantial gainful activity describes a level of work activity that is both substantial and gainful. Substantial work activity involves performance of significant physical or mental duties, or a combination of both, which are productive in nature. For activity to be substantial it need not necessarily be performed on a full-time basis; work activity performed on a part-time basis may also be substantial. Generally, earnings averaging over $1,000 a month (for the years 2010 or 2011) demonstrate SGA. Gainful activity is work performed for pay or profit; or work of a nature generally performed for pay or profit, whether or not a profit is realized. For SSI purposes, the substantial gainful activity provision does not apply to blind individuals.
