How We Review Your Disability Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: April 14, 2016
When you receive disability benefits, Social Security will periodically conduct a review of your condition to make sure you still qualify for blind or disability benefits. With the right information, you can be prepared when this happens.
When your case comes up for review, we’ll send you a letter asking you to come to your local Social Security office. We’ll ask you about how your medical condition affects you and whether it’s improved. We’ll also ask you to bring information about your medical treatment and any work you have performed since Social Security decided you were disabled.
A disability examiner from your state’s Disability Determination Services will request reports from your medical providers, and will carefully review all the information in your case. If the medical evidence is not complete or current, we may ask you to have a medical exam at no cost to you.
Social Security conducts a disability review of your case approximately every three years depending on the nature and severity of your medical condition and whether it’s expected to improve. If we don’t expect improvement, we’ll review your case every seven years.
When we conduct a disability review, if we find that your medical condition hasn’t improved and is still preventing you from working, you’ll continue to receive benefits. Your benefits only stop if the evidence shows your medical condition has improved and you are able to work regularly.
If you disagree with our decision, you can appeal and ask us to look at your case again. When we notify you of our decision, we will explain how you can appeal that decision.
You can visit us online for more information, or read our publication What You Need to Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits.
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Tags: Disability
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Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
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Kristi K.
How do I find out if I was denied or accepted for disability
Tammy
How long before I get results of my review and where online can I check status.
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melissa l.
i had a upper duller a long time ago and my back i messed up and my future husband has to help me out of bed because of my bad back it hurts a lot and i think i have arthritis in both arms because i have electricity in one arm and it hurts a lot and i have high blood pressure now
R.F.
Hello Melissa. The Social Security Act sets out a strict definition for disability. We pay disability benefits to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or to end in death. However, if a person thinks that he or she meets our definition of disability, we encourage them to apply for disability benefits when they become disabled.
See our Disability Planner for more information. Thanks!
Jeffrey L.
I contacted my DDS office which informed me a determination was made on my SSDI claim. DDS sent it to my local field office in Richmond , Va.
How long will it take for the local field office to notify me what the DDS determination was on my SSDI claim?
Can I call the local field office to find out the determination?
Also what does a SSDI letter look like ?
R.F.
Hello Jeffrey. The length of time it takes to receive “official” notification of the decision of your claim varies. Some claims are randomly selected for a quality assurance review of the decision.
We care about our customers and are working as fast as we can. For security reasons, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue.
In your situation, we encourage you to contact your local office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to one of our representatives. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
Ella C.
I need a copy of my award notice. I am trying to get my student loans taken care of by nelmet. I am trying to show that I will be receiving social security disability until my next review.
R.F.
Hello Ella. If you need proof you get Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security (SSI) Income or Medicare, you can request a benefit verification letter online by using your my Social Security account. You will need to speak to one of our agents if you need specific language in the letter.
Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks!
mike a.
i am on social security disability and started working at a school as a paraprofessional and there contract pays for 12 months instead of 9 months, the 12 months i wouldn’t be over but the 9 month i would be
R.F.
Hello Mike. You can return to work while receiving Social Security disability benefits. We have special rules to help you get back to work without jeopardizing your initial benefits.
Click here for more information on this important topic. Thanks!
Thomas G.
Do your social security disability benefits change when you turn 63
R.F.
Hello Thomas, Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries attain their full retirement age. Benefits are not interrupted with this transition and the benefit amount will generally remains the same. Thanks!
Raymond V.
I don’t understand! I am 71 and have been disabled since 1991. I have been training with Easter Seals for almost 4 years. I get minimum wage pay for this training.
Every October I get a letter saying I get credit for the earnings of the prior year but no COLA raise. My time will soon be up with my training and I have not been able to find a job. I am also a Vietnam veteran and would like to apply for benefits but I’m now on regular SS and I need to prove I’m still disabled. What can I do? I cant live off of $825. 00 a month. I can never reach anyone on the phone.
R.F.
Hello Raymond. Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries attain their full retirement age. If a person has reached his or her full retirement age (Currently 66) and is receiving Social Security retirement, they will not be eligible for disability benefits.
For more details about the new COLA, visit http://www.ssa.gov/cola. Thanks!
toally d.
Heart attack with 4X CABG on -pump 8 years ago.
Now 3x cardiac stents after 2nd MI. occasional ameurosis fugax due to >80% stenosis bilateral carotid. PAD right lower extremity. Femoral stent/bypass bilat recommended. Endarterectomy bilateral recommended immediately. should I work until I simply die so that you can use the money I put in to pay people who (a) don’t even TRY to get a job or (b) promise to vote for more programs like yours so you will make even more money while people like me get denied and told to keep trying to work