Return to Videos Yes. If you go back to work and earn money right now, the SGA, Substantial Gainful Activity is approximately $1,170 a month. If you're working and making more than $1,170 a month, you're automatically not eligible for benefits. The eligibility for benefits actually changes once you have benefits and the earnings threshold actually gets lower. If you're going back to work and you've been collecting disability benefits, be very careful, because typically earnings in excess of $600 gross a month make one a bit suspect. Don't be surprised to have Social Security reviewing your file and making a determination that you're not disabled if your earnings are high enough or if you haven't been seeing a doctor regularly in treating for your condition.