I scoured the SS site with no luck looking for an answer for a friend of mine who is also on SSD. I am trying to find out how much one can earn while on SSD before it is considered gainful employment and it starts applying to your 9 month work trial period.

I know it used to be 200 per month but thought that number changed. When I had returned to work I had earned way over what they considered the max but they never really said what that fated amount was.
Also will that amount earned reduce their benefits by the amount earned?

Thanks

SGA level I believe is $810 this year. I've also seen the number $580, but not sure exactly what that is for.... maybe Purplebill would know...?

As for the 9 month TWP, you can earn any amount during that and it doesn't affect your benefits at all. If you make $2000 a month, it doesn't matter. You still get your full SSD benefit.

SGA level also doesn't apply solely to the amount of money you earn. The following link can help explain that.

http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-0973.htm

This is the SSA's definition of Substantial Work Activity: "Substantial gainful activity is work activity that is both substantial and gainful:

(a) Substantial work activity. Substantial work activity is work activity that involves doing significant physical or mental activities. Your work may be substantial even if it is done on a part-time basis or if you do less, get paid less, or have less responsibility than when you worked before."

Finally, here is another link that may provide some insight:

http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-0974.htm

The chart on that link only goes up to the year 2000, when $700 a month was considered SGA level. That falls in line with the $810 for 2004 I mentioned earlier.

Hope these help some.

I was aware of how the TWP worked as I've done that in the past myself actually.
I'm thinking if he even tries to go to work they will put it under the TWP.
I thought however, that at one time you could work and earn up to something like $200 before they considered it a TWP.
It's been so long since I looked into it and couldn't find the answers that I figured one of you all would know

Ammy is essentially correct. SGA is maximally defined as $810.00 or more per month. By maximally I mean that one can be found to be engaged in SGA while making less than $810.00 per month, SSA presumes SGA at $810.00 or more. The $580.00 figure is the amount that triggers a month of Trial Work Period (TWP). SGA and TWP are two separate concepts, i.e. they are not linked.

Thanks Purp I knew you'd know the answer :0
It is so confusing, tell me if I'm wrong, if he earns under 580 it won't trigger the TWP or the SGA yes? But if he earns over 580 but under 810 it triggers the TWP but not the SGA, and if he earns over 810 both are triggered?

OK that just confused me even more!