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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kathleen f.
Hi
I was wondering if there is any way for me to obtain medical documents that were in an old social security , disability claim that was denied. Since it appears that with my current claim they are missing, or unable to obtain the same medical records found in my old claim which I feel is imperative to my winning my case. How am I able to request that my medical information in the old claim be transferred into new claim, or am I even able to do so?
R.F.
Thank you for your question Kathleen. You will need to contact your local Social Security office directly to request a copy of your medical file. Our representatives will assist you in the development and processing of a new claim. Most disability claims are completed electronically. Your records will likely be provided in CD format at no cost.
Ileana O.
Llevo ya un año en espera de una respuesta para vista con el juez, mis abogados indican que pueden tardar más . No entiendo, van dos años solicitando la incapacidad y no tengo respuestas de ningún lado. Cuánto tiempo más tengo que esperar?
giovanni r.
Do you not understand.. I giovanni ruiz do not want ssa checks not being cashed ? Please close my name out of your system !
Joe F.
I’ve been on SSDI since December 2009. I had a very bad home injury when I had just purchase a new futon and a friend who moved to Memphis slept on it the night before the accident. The screws came out from the part of the futon to allow it to go up as a sofa and down as a bed. Attempting to fix the problem, my friend was supposed to hold the bed and springs up, as I was going under the futon to get all of the screws and mounts that fell out. My friend reached for an alcoholic drink and the steel metal frame and the springs fell and hit my shoulder and then my neck, crushing most of my disc’s. I endured a 14 plus hour surgery repairing my disc’s anteria and posteria. It took me over to be comfortable with the fusion. I have never been able to work since.
In 2015 I had a very nasty fall when I was leaving church. My fall caused my entire Right Lumbar to break in half and they were stacked on top of each other. This time I had a Neuro-Surgeon do the surgery that was needed. I’ve been at the same rehab for the past 10 months and they got my nose from being underground like an Ostrich. I still workout there with a personal trainer and I can walk with a cane and distance is the main problem for me. My doctor told me that the injury will be a problem for me and that I would require to take pain meds for the rest of my life. I’m a young 64 years and I returned to school to get an Accounting Degree. I now will be looking for part-time jobs for companies that are looking for a part-time accountant. I did report my sever back surgery to someone at Social Security. I also was awarded a whopping check for $1,377 per month. I feel like they kept at least 33% of the money that I should have been paid. I’ll turn 65 in January and 66 the following January.
My question is an easy one. Will I become 65 will I receive more money for being on Full Social Security. I can barely make ends meet each month with a check of $1,377 as food alone has gone up 2 to 3 times from last year and we didn’t get a raise for the cost of living as Everything that you may imagine will continue to go up in price. I pray that the the Senators and Congressmen will change their present outlook of SSDi and do what they say they will do. We need a raise every when the Cost of Living goes up. Last year we did not get a raise due to the price of gasoline going down in price. This is a Feable excuse as I quit driving when I broke my right lumbar in half,and I’m sure there are others on SSDI that have trouble making end meet. I forgot to tell y’all that I lost everything due to Hurricane Katrina as many others also did.
R.F.
Hi Joe. We are sorry to hear about all the inconveniences you had to confront in the past few years, but we also would like to congratulate you for attaining your degree. Congratulations! When you receive disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, we will automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits, when you attain your Full Retirement Age. The benefit amount will generally remain the same. Since you are planning on working part-time, we ask that you read our publication “Working while Disabled- How We Can Help” and to visit our “Work Incentives” web page for important information. Thanks!
Marcel
I am sorry that many of you are suffering due to the SSDI process. I suffer from PTSD, Major Depression, Diabetes, Insomina, Bipolar Disorder (Mania, Depressive), Sleep Disorder, Sucide Ideation (4 attempts since January 2014), Poly Neuropathy (All Limbs), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (both hands). I did all the paper work on my own, and was approved in 5 months. My situations is not any better or worse then any of yours. I lost everything I worked hard to earn throughout the years. I would give anything to be able to work any type of job.
If you can be retrained and do any other type of work you should while you are waiting for your case to come up. Too many people decide not to do anything thinking if they work they will be denied. You have to try! Social Security is not one stop fix it plan. If you can work part-time work part-time. As you read the stories posted it could take you a couple of years to get your case settled.
Only about 27% get approved on the initial application stage. I was one of them because I knew how the system worked and I did 400 hours worth of research. I in affect became my own lawyer. If you want something bad enough you will find a way.
step – Stop relying on other people to fight your battles including lawyers and family members.
step – You MUST be willing to follow-up on everything at least 10 times. My state examiner knew me by first name. I made sure my file stayed on her desk. You notice I said her because I knew her name and I spoken with her on many occassions to point I had do what must examiners do not do call me back and keep me updated on what she needed in my file. Medical records from all doctors. All my doctors knew to not comply with what the SSA needed or wanted was to act not worth the headache they would receive from me.
Step – I made the doctors give me copies of everything they gave to the SSA. Labs, etc.
Step – I did my research on the internet and read every word pertaining to my illness I was applying for. I read SSA definition of disability and chosen my words carefully when talking or writing to them. You are giving them an interview of why you are TOTALLY DISABLE AND CANNOT WORK. EXample: You have an illness why can’t you become an security guard if you was a bank teller in the past 15 years. Look at the National Economy Job Sheet. They are not telling you must be able to get a job. They are saying if you COULD get a another job in a similiar field you will be denied. WHY? Because it is possible despite your illness you can work.
Get off your butt. Get to work. Stop complaining because people will only care as much as you care about yourself. You have to fight!!! It is your life others can only do but so much for you. There are phamarcy companies that will give you free samples off the medicine that you need. You may not get medicaid but you get free meds from Supermarket chains like public’s for your diabetes.
You all have just been educated on the SSA process. You only received a tiny summary of what I learned and the reason by means of God I was approved in 5 months with no questions asks of me except which bank account do you want your SSDI Check to be deposit it. I had to work. This process is not for the weak minded or the fearful. Get off your BUTT and get the Social Security you worked for all those years.
Smitha205
Your goal is to breed all the different dragons ddedkdeaeedkbdef
Amy M.
Hi, I have a very odd question that I haven’t been able to get answered.
I had SSD from 1987-1995. I let my SSD lapse because I moved to a new city and didn’t know how to fill out the yearly review forms.
I’ve since reapplied and been turned down saying I hadn’t worked within the past ten years, so I live on SSI.
My question is: since I allowed my SSD to lapse due to my disability, PTSD, DID, and other recorded disorders, can I ever get it back? Get my SSD reinstated?
I apologize for such an unusual set of circumstances that are so very atypical.
Thank you, Amy
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Amy. Generally, when you apply for disability benefits, we take applications for both programs. When it comes to qualifying for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Income or SSDI program, individuals must have worked long enough–and recently enough–under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which you have to earn within the last 10 years before you become disabled. If you have specific questions about your situation, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask one of our representatives to assist you.
Amy M.
Thank you for your reply!
Sanjuanita K.
Fantastic piece . I am thankful for the insight – Does anyone know if my company might find a sample a form copy to fill in ?
Paul
I recently received a partially favorable decision for my disability which will pay benefits starting 10 days after my ODAR hearing. If I choose to appeal the decision to get benefits that start on the actual date of my disability 3 years prior will the benefit be withheld until the appeal is heard, or will I receive benefits immediately?
R.F.
Hi Paul. You can receive your disability payments while appealing your “actual date of disability”. Note that your appeal must be filed within 60 days from the date you received the letter explaining our decision. If payment is established with the approved date of disability and later changed, your payments will be adjusted accordingly. Hope this is helpful.
Betsy W.
Okay, I am REALLY pissed off at you guys right now. I am trying to report a bank change for my SSI/SSDI. I called. Chose the callback rather than waiting 40 minutes. (Why is it longer to wait for a callback if it claims you don’t lose your place in line?) Spoke to a guy, waited in dead silence for so long I thought he hung up looking up my SS #. Finally comes back and says what’s your routing number for your old bank. I don’t know. You need that he says. Oh, so nobody told me I needed it but now I have to call back and wait ANOTHER hour for you to call me back? Yes, he says. Why can’t you do it online? Well, you have my social security he says, CLICK!
He HUNG UP ON ME! While I was asking him why if I can change my bank info online I was told to call. How DARE he hang up on someone speaking politely asking a simple honest question!
This is what you allow? Really? Don’t you think if the links on my social security lead to a place I could put in my old and new bank info I would have done it and be done rather than waiting two hours? At that rate I could practically have walked to my wife’s work, picked up the car, and driven the 45 minutes to sit at the nearest office instead!
I’m not asking for the world here you know, just POLITE people who don’t hang up when someone is trying hard to be polite to them. Just a place to fill in some bank info online and save the phone line some time, and save me some time. That shouldn’t be too much to ask. Shoot, it should fit great with that paperwork reduction act of yours. But to be hung up on, then have to wait another hour is beyond ridiculous. You REALLY need to find out who was manning that call and fire them! It would have been made to Flippin Arkansas out of whatever your 800 office is at 3:15ish on Thursday the 28th.
R.F.
We apologize for the long wait Betsy, and regret to hear that we did not provide the level of customer service you expected. Remember, we take protecting the public’s personal information very seriously, and our representatives are required to use an identity verification process to protect your privacy and your Social Security information and benefits. Many services are conveniently available anytime at our website, and beneficiaries can create a personal “my Social Security account” to manage their Social Security benefits,. However, for changes related to your Supplemental Security Income or SSI benefits, you are required to call us or contact your local Social Security office.
Sometimes we experience higher than normal call volume. Generally, when calling our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later during the week. Our representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. We thank you for your understanding and for bringing this matter to our attention. Please try again.