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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Susanne J.
Hello,
I have been receiving disability since 1998 and I have a incurable disease I have always filled out the two-page short form andactually filled it out two different times last year. 2 days ago I received a full medical review packet and I was given seven days to complete it and have it returned back to my local social security office. My first question is is there not a time frame that is feasible to get the information filled out and to get it mailed and back in time? I don’t think 7 days is enough time to fill out 20 something years worth of doctor visits and addresses. I don’t have enough time to fill out the 17 Page packet properly. My second question is why all of the sudden am I getting the long form when I filled out two of the short forms last year and was told that would not be reviewed and that’s my condition has worsened plus I have more medical problems that cannot be cured. When I called my local social security office for help with this and for help with one of the questions on the farm I was told to just guess I filled out the best I could. That is not a acceptable answer and I don’t know whether I’m supposed to make an appointment to take this in or if I have a social security person assigned to me they were supposed to be a pamphlet that explained all of this and I did not receive the pamphlet either can you see where I’m confused?
I have filled out the pamphlet or the questionnaire is best as I can or to my ability I’m losing my eyesight now I have doctors that I’m supposed to say but it’s not in the time frame did they have given me to return questionnaire can you please help me and tell me what I really need to do next? I was put on permanent disability for the rest of my life I understand being reviewed I have no problem with that what I don’t understand is the time frame and the way I have been treated. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.
A.C.
Hi, Susanne. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Elizabeth P.
I was sent a continuing disability review report for my son David Kaena Puaoi Dawson from the Maui, Wailuku Office of Social Security Administration. However, application is unreadable and I can’t read most of the pages. Is their an application on line that I can look at or follow so I can complete his Continuing Disability Review.
A.C.
Hi, Elizabeth. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this is resolved soon.
Ray S.
why was my ss reduced from ssd
example: getting 1000 on ssd then when I go on ss
I get $200?
A.C.
Hi, Ray. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
sheryllynnlofgren@gmail.com
Wondering why my check was not deposited in May of 2019? Noting has changed and I did send I the information that was requested in a letter to me.
J.Y.
Thanks for your question. If you do not receive your payment on your scheduled pay date, we usually advise people to wait three days after the date you normally receive it before calling us. To report a late or missing payment, contact us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Your bank may also be able to tell you why a deposit failed. For future reference, you can create a my Social Security account to change Direct Deposit online. We hope this helps.
lawrence m.
I received my file back from the ssi office they said look it over after that what do i need to do next after I look it over. What is the next step. Thank you for your time.
Kimberly S.
im having problems trying to get my student loans discharged.
V.V.
Hi Kimberly, thanks for using our blog. If you need proof of your Social Security disability or SSI benefits, you can get a benefit verification letter online instantly by using your personal my Social Security account. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. To set up your account, visit the my Social Security web page and select, “Sign In or Create an Account.” You will need to provide some personal information to verify your identity, choose a username and password and follow the rest of the steps to finish creating your account. Once you create your account, scroll down to the Benefits and Payments section and choose “get benefit verification letter” where you can instantly view, print, or save your official letter. If you are unable to create an account or encounter a problem, you may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk” or you can contact your local Social Security office.
Lisa S.
is there an approximate time that it takes for approval once you apply and submit all of your medical information? My status just says its in the processing stage.
V.V.
Hi Lisa, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Typically, you can expect to hear a decision on your disability claim from three to five months after you submit your application, but it can vary depending on several factors, such as if we have all the information we need to process your application. Other factors include: the nature of your disability, how quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical sources, and if your claim is randomly selected for a quality assurance review of the decision.
Lisa
But why a review only 9 months I’ve been on it I’m blind in one eye other 200 depth cancer on legs copd and severe depression which none of it is better it’s worsening??
Angel D.
I was up for a review they sent me papers to fill out to see if I am still eligible and I did not get my papers in on time will I still receive my payment for the following month
A.C.
Hi, Angel. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Henderson
I wish to be anonymous because I’m in fear of losing my house and fear of losing my benefits I live in a shelter and a volunteer from the advocacy program came was introduced as an advocate…. then convinced me to allow her to be my payee rep …as soon as check came she( advocate) called me an two of my housing case manager into a their office as we walked inside I asked if my boyfriend could come inside not to make any decisions but just be there if I have any questions later on… And because I was on medicine…. I gave my verbal consent for him to be in there I then asked if there’s anything that I needed to sign anything for him to be in there I would then my advocate told me I could not have anybody else in there but the four of us ….my to housing case managers my advocate and me was all that was allowed to come inside…with my check in her hand in front of my two housing case managers went over test results then she told all of us that three doctors found me incompetent… And that’s why I needed a payee rep… I felt so violated .. as she talked I texted my mental health case manager 2 times asking for help… I was so embarrassed confused and upset that I stood up and told her to keep the money and walked out in tears … Confused and ashamed how could I have trusted this lady with everything for her to hold my hand and tell me not to worry ….only to bring me into a office violate my HIPAA…..I went back into my room in tears knowing that I had lost it in front of everyone now fearful of my house fear quote of my SSI feeling she was going to go back and tell the court I was not complying…. my boyfriend asked what happened I told him to talk to them so he went and when he came back…I asked him what did they say ….he then said that she’s in my best interest and then gave her credentials to me because that’s what he was told …. I’m a manic depression I have PTSD severely from assault an bipolar with s suicide tendencies when triggered…..i had no way to contact her no way to find out anything about my money about my appeals about my case for two weeks…at that point my housing manager pulled me into her office to talk one more time with my advocate but my housing case manager stop the meeting due to me and the animosity in each other’s voices. At that point I finally I decided to go to SSI and I change my payee rep over to my mom….. However this advocate is still on my case…she was introduced as my advocate became my payee rep and now I find out she’s my legal rep for my appeals … ….from advocate to payee rep to Legal rep I just want her off my case….her name is Amber Little….she knew that I applied in 2014 however due to no representation not knowing how I’m being confused about the legal aspect I did not know about deadlines did not know how to obtain legal representation I was just as lost as I am now …. I was awarded SSI dated November 2018 one of my appeals is for back pay cuz I applied in 2014 another one is to be my own payee rep…. she advised me to go take a money smarts class I did she advised me to get a letter from my housing manager stating that I’ve been paying rent I have I’ve been following it with my doctors however I have no way of turning in any information cuz I cannot contact her…..This advocate came to me as an advocate convince me to allow her to become my payee rep held my hand told me not to worry then she brought me into a room embarrass me insulted me … I almost had a complete mental breakdown at that point I am so fearful of losing my housing …fearful of losing my SSI I have no way to contact her I just want her off my case…2 days ago my mom got a letter in the mail saying that we have a hearing with SSI to review my case… And I could possibly be terminated….. I have no way to contact this lady Amber I have no way to turn in information I’m not sure how to .. she became my payee rep in March March 1st I got my check since March I’ve had flashbacks since March I’ve had nightmares since March I’ve had no way to contact this lady and now I’m in fear of losing everything.. I’m scared I’m going to lose my housing my SSI especially if I said anything who’s going to believe me I’m an idiot and she’s got all these credentials…..
Cathy C.
Imlost, where do I go to find out if Ive been approved or not?