How Long Can I Keep My Disability Benefits?
If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, could SSA discontinue your monthly checks? They could, but it would have to be because they have determined that your medical condition has improved and you are able to go back to work.
Your impairment and your ability to work are the two major criteria for eligibility of disability benefits. So, once you are approved, SSA will need to periodically check to see if anything has changed.
You will have to undergo two continuing disability reviews (CDRs); one on your disability, and one on your work status. How often these CDRs occur depends on your situation:
- Six to 18 months after your disability benefits began if your disability is likely to improve
- Every three years if your disability is expected to improve over time
- Once every five to seven years if you are unlikely to improve
You don’t have to do anything about scheduling a CDR. SSA will know when to contact you. Since the CDRs heavily rely on medical evidence, it would be wise for you to keep detailed, ongoing medical records.
If SSA decides that your disability has improved enough for you to go back to work, they will discontinue benefits three months after making the decision that you are no longer disabled. You can always appeal their decision if you disagree.
The one thing you must do is inform SSA if your condition improves, or if you have gone back to work. The work CDR reviews your earnings and, if you earn more than the current Substantial Gainful Allowance, you benefits will stop.
But, you never have to worry about losing benefits if your disability continues to prevent you from working. Your disability benefits are yours for as long as you need them.
94 comments to “How Long Can I Keep My Disability Benefits?”
← Older Comments |
Newer Comments → |
Ok so i just sent in the letter with 5 questions about the last time i saw a dr. have i worked etc. since i have not saw a dr in 2 years i’m assuming I will have to go through the full cdr process, is that an accurate assumption? Also how long on average does the cdr process take, will i have to go back to court?
Jen,
Since your medical history and current medical information is very important to prove continued disability, and you haven’t kept your medical history up-to-date, it is likely that you will have a medical CDR with an SSA-appointed medical professional. Please review our article “Can You Medically Support Your Social Security Disability Claim?” and also “Your Medical History is Critical to Your Disability Claim” As this article says, from the medical evidence SSA reviews, if they decide you are no longer disabled, you have the option to appeal their decision.
My 28 year old disabled son received a letter from Social Security Admin yesterday stating they are discontinuing his benefits because he did not work long enough under Social Security. My son has been disabled since birth, cannot drive, needs assisstance with personal care, can’t walk across a street alone ,etc.
Do you have any idea what is going on here?
Thank you
Mary,
Based on SSA’s information, a child can get benefits based on a parent’s work record if: Your unmarried child, age 18 or older, if he or she has a disability that started before age 22. (The child’s disability also must meet the definition of disability for adults.) It would be best to talk to SSA about this since we don’t know the circumstances that led to this decision. Good luck.
I have been disabled since 2001 and I haven’t worked, so I receive SSI. I’m only legally “married” but separated from the father of my son for more that 17 years. He had been working for 30 years, and unfortunatly on december he became disabled too, he wasn’t able to pay his rent, So I give him a room on my apartment with our son so I can help him out during his crisis, now he have SSDI and receive $1049. monthly, today, I received a letter from SSA stating I was receiving SSI benefits of $674.00 as an individual and now your spouse applied and was approved for SSI. Your benefits are now recalculated as a couple beginning March 2011 and ongoing, you are no longer elegible to receive SSI as of July 2011 due to your spouses income, Social Security Benefits of $1049.00 your SSI will stop as of September 2011. What should I do?
Odalys,
It is true that if you and your husband are living together, his income is counted as a deemed resource for your household. SSI payments can change month to month if income changes. This is an issue for you to discuss with your local Social Security office.
I started receiving SSI in 2008. They found me disabled back to 2001, but would only pay me the retro to 2006. My husband had been laid off from his job & was receiving unemployment. They cut my retro cks into 3 separate cks. Each time I would receive one, the SSA would send a letter following it demanding that I owed them back money. During the time my husband received the unemployment I sent the SSA printouts of my husbands unemployment earnings. Once I received the last retro ck & my husband received his last employment ck, I get another letter from the SSA saying I owe them almost $3,000.00 in back pay. They said my husband received the stimulus money in his unemployment, which I told them verbally numerous times that he was receiving. They informed me that SSI is a welfare program & that I owed that money back. They have cut my check back now to $419.34/mo for a family of four. Now I am looking into stopping it and just suffer through the pain and return to work just so we can survive. Now I am reading that I can’t even stop the SSI without a problem. Is this true? Can I stop the SSI? My attorney NEVER informed me I was going to be receiving SSI or what this meant. I am sitting here reading so many horror stories on the net of what has happened to people on SSI.
Lisa,
Perhaps it would be best to refer to SSA’s own publication on SSI. http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/11011.html. Without knowing enough about your situation it sounds like you got Social Security disability (SSD) as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which you must have qualified for at the time because of low income and resources. SSI is a needs-based program to help people with disabilites. And the payments do change when income into your household changes. The SSA publication on Supplemental Security Income explains everything about what is expected from recipients of SSI.
I received my fully favorable decision from the Judge back in August of 2010. (I was disabled from February of 2007.) Under the “Issues” section before the “Findings of Fact…”, one of the paragraphs says, “The claimant’s earnings record shows that the claimant has acquired quarters of coverage to remain insured through December 31, 2011. Thus the claimant must establish disability on or before the date in order to be entitled to a period of disability and disability insurance benefits.”
Under the “Findings of Fact…” it shows:
“1. The claimant’s date last insured is December 31, 2011.”
However, on the Notice of Award, it says we will review your case in 5 to 7 years.
I am so confused as to why the Judge’s letter says I am insured through 12/31/11 while the Notice of Award says my case will be reviewed in 5-7 years. Are these totally different things?
Suzanne, I hope you can explain this to me so I can put my mind at rest.
Thanks!
Lynn,
I believe our article “How Long Can I Keep My Disability Benefits” will help you understand what the judge means. You have been awarded benefits. But SSA reviews all disability cases within a certain period of time to determine if anything has changed. The letter explains that you met the work history elibility criteria to be insured for disability benefits. And that in 5 to 7 years, your case will undergo a routine review. I think you can put your mind at rest about it.
Hi there,
Back in August I received a CDR request for information from the SSA Dept. It was basic medical release forms, questions about my disability and so forth. I returned that information by mid August as they requested. Today I received a questionnaire from the Vermont “Disability Determination Office” basically asking the same questions. Almost the same forms except this packet did not include medical release forms. The letter in the beginning of the packet says they are requesting additional information but truly its the same information I already provided. Is this a normal thing? Should I be concerned?
FYI…the additional request I received today I referred to in my earlier post was a “function report” that basically asked the same questions I submitted in August. Is this normal? Should I be concerned?
James,
It sounds like they sent you questions on your medical status in one packet, and then questions on your functionality in another packet. This article says that “You will have to undergo two continuing disability reviews (CDRs); one on your disability, and one on your work status. How often these CDRs occur depends on the severity of your situation..” SSA is required to conduct CDRs to make certain that a person’s disability continues to prevent them from functioning at any job, or to find out if that person has been working. You should probably consider all this paperwork as part of a routine review. Unless something has changed about your medical condition that raises questions about your continuing disability, there may not be reason for concern.
James- this just happened to us. My husband was just sent another form and the questions look pretty much the same as the first packet we sent in 6 months ago. This is his first review and he has almost been on SDI for 7 years
Kris~I was wondering if you have heard anything further from ssa regarding your husbands cdr? I too have been on ssdi for 7 years. I received the cdr long form to fill out in September 2011. SSA sent me a letter that my disability was continuing regarding the work end of my review, but was sending my information to DDS for the medical review. This is my first cdr and was just curious as to how long the process typically takes.
Hello there,
Back in 2008 I was awarded SSDI. It stated that I would be reviewed in 3 years. I am thinking about trying the Trial Work Program (TWP) but have a question. If I enter into the Trial Work Program (not the Ticket Program) and my regularly scheduled medical review comes up during that time, will I be kicked off SSDI since I am in the TWP? I would be making over the SGA during the TWP, but since 2008, my medical condition actually got worse. So from just a medical standpoint, I know I would meet criteria for Cystic Fibrosis. I was wondering though if a routine medical review during the TWP would automatically kick me off even though my condition has gotten slightly worse. Thanks.
Daniel,
It is my understanding that if you’re participating in the Ticket to Work Program and are accumulating months of trial work (which is the trial work period) you won’t have to undergo a medical review. If you make over substantial gainful activity in any month, which is $1,000, you won’t get an SSDI benefit for that month. But you’re still eligible for SSDI payments if you earn below $1,000 in any month. If you are unable to earn above SGA any time within five years of working, your SSDI benefit will be reinstated. If you work successfully and continuously for longer than five years and then find that you can’t continue because of your disability, you would have to reapply for benefits to get reinstated again. Please check out our article on the “Ticket to Work” program through SSA. It sounds a bit complicated but I hope this helps.
i was approved for ssdi in aug of 2008 today i got a letter from ssdi statting that ” we recently reviewed the evidence in your social security disability clam and found that your disability is contnuing.” what does excatly mean also it stats that my file is being sent to the disability determination services in your state for this medical review. i have a 27 year old male that is living with kaposi sacorma, aids, and neupropathic pain in my feet due to chemo. do i have something to worry about or what please help thanks
Daniel,
This sounds like a routine CDR – a continuing disability review. Please read through this article again. It explains that SSA is required to periodically review all claims. They are inforiming you that they are reviewing your medical information to determine if you have improved, are the same, or worse. If your medical records are up to date and continue to support your disability, I would guess that you don’t have anything to worry about. If they determine that your “disability is continuing” they won’t review again until, maybe another three years or so.
Hi, I have been working consectively for at least nine months. I reported to SSC the day I started work. I would like to know will I receive a letter stating that I no longer receive benefits. How does that process work?
Valery,
From what I understand, if you’re working and earning above substantial gainful activity ($1000) in any month your SSD benefits discontinue. If you lapse and can no longer work, your benefits are reinstated unless this occurs after five years has passed. Then you have to reapply for SSDI. Click here for the basics of the Ticket to Work program. I would think the same rules apply even if you did not ease back to work through the Ticket to Work program. Maybe you should contact your local SSA office directly to make sure they know that you’re working. By the way, I think it’s great that you’re working again.
I just received a full medical cdr review in the mail, filled everyhting out and sent off today .Coud you please tell me what steps to take next ? If they deny my ssdi benefits should i get a lawyer for the appeal process. Any help would be appreciated.
Robby,
As this article explains, SSA knows when to contact you for a medical review and work review. Based on the current medical information you provide, if they decide that you have improved and can work, they will tell you so, and tell you that your benefits will stop three months after making this decision. Should this happen to you, and you disagree, you certainly have the right to appeal and the right to get legal representation to help you. Remember, this is a routine review that happens within a certain period of time, depending on your condition. I think you just need to make sure your documentation is current at all times, and to be ready to provide them with whatever they ask of you. And then wait for the outcome of the review. Hopefully it will turn out okay for you.
Hi, I was approved SSDI a few weeks ago, however I intend to move to a Latin American country where cost of living, medical care and insurance are way cheaper and to be close to family (I am american citizen), however I was told by the ALJ that I will be reviewed in 18 months, I intend to keep my bank account and a reliable address for receive mail in USA … My question is: How do I go about medical records or Dr info when living abroad?, would they ask for medical records for the review?, certainly they won’t be in english. Can the questionnaire be done online?, What else would I need to prepare for when the review date comes while living abroad?. Thanks for any info you can provide ….
Dan,
First of all, congratulations on getting approved. The ALJ gave you a rough estimate on when to expect a review, but it’s hard to say when and if it will occur since these routine reviews are somewhat backlogged, When yours comes up, SSA will guide you through the process. You’ll receive paperwork with a set of questions in the mail. If your particular review requires medical records, the U.S. Embassy where you live will help you. In the interim, the best thing you can do, no matter where you live, is to keep your medical records current. Best of luck to you.
I received a letter from Social Security about a week ago. In this letter it says: “We are writing you to tell you about changes in your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) record. The rest of this letter will tell you more about this change.”
Your payments will be as follows:
From Through Amount Due Each Month
December 1, 2011 Continuing $674.00
Information About Your SSI Payments:
This action does not change your current payment amount.
Your Payment Is Based On These Facts
You and your spouse have no income from June 2008 on.”
I dont get it, really. It says they are writing to tell me about changes, HOWEVER, it states there are NO changes. Why did they even send me this letter? Seems like a total waste of paper and resources.
But I dont know, is there something I am not seeing or catching on to here?
Will I still receive my payment? It says so, but it also says there are changes, and there arent any.
Please someone respond to this and let me know what is going on with this letter and what it really means.
THANK YOU
A. Smith
Illinois
ANYONE GOT ANSWERS ON THIS???? please!!!
@ A.Smith…it’s a waste of paper!…but they must
give you this information.
hmmm guess not lol
If I already receive my monthly check, can I ask for my check early due to a hardship?
id like to switch to a homeopathic mental health doctor, will my benefits stop?
help, i was on disability since 2006 ..2008 i started to receive my checks. I just had a review done in November of this year–but my checks stopped comming while they were doing the review.. I just
received a letter saying that i did qualify for continuing benifits but still no money…Im going on 2 months now with no income at all… it cost me almost 2000 dollars to see my specialist and another 900 for my monthly meds which i have had to go without due to them cutting off my insurance during the laps of the review. What happened to my checks?? When will i get them back??
my mom revieved a letter from the local office telling her to be there Tuesday. She was just approved in Nov 2011. In red it states to be at the appt or she will loose her disabilty does anyone know what this means, she is a nervous reck, thanks
My wife has applied for ssi benefits and may recieve $1250 per month and half for her step daughter(my daughter). My wife has worked all her life and has her own ssi bank of ssi. Now I have become disabled and can be eligible for $1500 per month since I have worked all my life on my own bank of ssi. Our household max is $2705 by my statement. Will we both get ssi at our house max of $2705 since we both accumlated ssi we paid in separetly? Thx
Hi John,
Thanks for you comment. If you have worked all your life and have now become disabled, you may be eligible for both SSI and SSDI. I would say the first step to figuring out what you’re eligible for would be to get an evaluation from one of our eligibility consultants. When you call in you’ll be asked some questions about your condition and how it interferes with your ability to work. You’ll also be asked about your work history to help determine if you are insured for benefits. This free consultation will also give you some guidance on what your next steps should be. I hope you’ll call us at 866-761-5942.
Okay, I am insured with ssd and have plenty of credits, and I am not eligible for ssdi. I just finished with workmans comp and settled for a substantial amount. The question is / If my wife is on ssd and gets $1876 for both herself and child. Now if I apply and will be eligible and will be found disabled. Do they now award me a separate amount of $1500 and my wife gets $1276 since our family limit is $2776. My wife worked all her life and qualified for disability on her own ss earned. Or do they now give her half of my amount? We are just wondering if we will each get disability separately from our credits earned. or do they base it off my credits and she will then get half. THX
I am scared of losing my disability benefits; I was awarded benefits due to AIDS years ago. But now I have breast cancer. My (new) doctor filled out my disability form as though breast cancer were the issue, not AIDS. Do you know anything about CDRs when a new diagnosis is involved? Thanks.
“Do you know anything about CDRs when a new diagnosis is involved”
It depends. The new diagnosis is important, but the blood counting is also, probably more, import in a CDR case. You should get ALL med. recs. and sent it to DDS (or local office) before they stop your benefits.
how can I stop the ssi benefited , because I will get the job in this month.
“how can I stop the ssi benefited , because I will get the job in this month. ”
Reply
You have to inform SSA.
Do it by CERTIFIED MAIL!!!!
SSA CRs, in general, do not enter telephonic info in your records, and later they my start an overpayment process or a fraud process against you.