Many folks are under the mistaken impression that being found disabled by Social Security confers a permanent status. It does not. In past years, administrative law judges would routinely recommend that a person’s disability be re-evaluated in 5-7 years. Nowadays, my clients are experiencing more like 12 -18 months, although SSA says that the average is three years.
Is there reason to worry about a CDR?
The first thing to know is that if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, the review is not limited to whether you are still medically disabled. It also includes looking at whether you still meet the financial requirements.
Some people will breeze through their CDR because their condition is permanent or they have continued to see their health care providers and receive treatment, and that’s reflected in their chart notes. The folks who should worry are those whose conditions might improve with medication or treatment but they have not seen health care providers and/or not taken medication. In that case, it’s very likely that their CDR will result in a finding that they are no longer disabled. If a person continues to receive benefits after that time, s/he can be responsible for paying those benefits back.
SSA plans to increase CDRs nationwide from 550,000 in 2014…to 830,000 in 2015. That’s a big increase — and it means directing limited funds away from other priorities and into checking whether benefits should be stopped. I think that’s the wrong direction to be going.