What Is A Continuing Disability Review?
Getting approved for Social Security Disability benefits is not an easy road. With delays the norm, you can expect to wait many months or even years for approval. And if you do ever get approved, the drama doesn’t end there. You then have to have regular reviews.
In order to receive Social Security Disability benefits, you must be able to prove that an illness or injury will prevent you from working for a year or longer. However, if you happen to improve, your benefits are supposed to end.
Because of this, the Social Security Administration (SSA) needs to keep tabs on you and your medical condition. They will require period check-ins, which are called continuing disability reviews. Basically, these are done to see if you are still unable to work due to a debilitating medical condition.
What Is Involved in a Continuing Disability Review?
A medical consultant and a disability examiner from the Social Security Administration will review your case to see if you have improved at all since you started receiving benefits. They will ask you questions about your condition, such as treatment information, contact information for your doctors, and medical records from hospitals and medical centers that treated you.
The reviewers will talk to your doctors about your medical condition, such as treatment and how it affects your ability to work. it’s being treated. The Social Security Administration may ask you to undergo a medical exam.
How Often Will I Need Continuing Disability Reviews?
The frequency of continuing disability reviews will depend on how the Social Security Administration categorizes your prognosis. There are three classifications:
- Medical Improvement Not Expected: Reviews are held every seven years.
- Medical Improvement Possible: Reviews are every three years.
- Medical Improvement Expected: Reviews are every 6-18 months.
When your claim is approved, you will receive an initial award notice that tells you when to expect your first review.
What Happens Next?
Your benefits will continue if the reviewers determine that you are still disabled. On the other hand, if it has been determined that you have medically improved and you can return to work, your payments will stop within a few months. You could also lose your benefits if:
- You provided false information on your application in order to receive benefits.
- You aren’t cooperating with the Social Security Administration.
- You aren’t following doctor’s orders.
Learn More About Social Security Disability Benefits
You may be frustrated that you’ll have to have a review, but it’s done for a good reason: to prevent fraud. Many people take advantage of these government benefits, so as you can imagine, many people pretend to be disabled so they can get their hands on some cash.
The process for getting approved for Social Security Disability benefits can be challenging. White Plains Social Security disability attorney Michael Lawrence Varon can help. We have many years of experience dealing with this area of law. Schedule a consultation today by calling 914-294-2145 or fill out the online form.
