What's New in 2021?

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

The SGA amount for persons with disabilities other than blindness is $1,310 per month in 2021.

For persons who are blind, the amount of earnings that indicate SGA is $2,190 per month in 2021. Further information is available in the section How We Decide If You Are Disabled.

Trial Work Period (TWP) Months

The monthly earnings amount that we use to determine if a month counts as a TWP month is $940 per month in 2021. Details on the TWP are in the section Trial Work Period.

Federal Benefit Rate (FBR)

For 2021, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) FBR is $794 per month for an eligible individual and $1,191 per month for an eligible couple.

Student Earned-Income Exclusion (SEIE)

For 2021, the amount of earnings that will have no effect on eligibility or benefits for SSI beneficiaries who are students under age 22 is $7,770 a year. The amount of earnings that we can exclude each month, until we have excluded the maximum for the year, is $1,930 a month. Details on the SEIE are on Student Earned-Income Exclusion.

Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance

For 2021, the monthly Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance base premium is $471, and the 45 percent reduced premium is $259.

Medicare Part B Supplemental Medical Insurance

For 2021, the Part B Supplementary Medical Insurance monthly base premium is $148.50 (or higher depending on your income). Social Security will tell you the exact amount you will pay for Part B in 2021.  For more information, see How much does Part B cost? 

Medicaid While Working

For 2021, we increased the Medicaid While Working State Threshold Amounts for persons with disabilities. We use yearly state threshold amounts to decide if earnings are high enough to replace SSI and Medicaid benefits. The 2021 amounts for each state can be located at: SSI Only Employment Supports online.