Many of our favorable hearing decisions include this (or similar) language on the final page of the decision: Medical improvement is expected with appropriate treatment. Consequently, a continuing disability review is recommended in 18 months.
For our clients who have fought long and hard for disability benefits, this can be a scary thing to read.
As Cheryl wrote about in her post on Continuing Disability Reviews (or CDRs), this is now standard procedure and people who receive disability benefits, either SSD or SSI, should be aware of the CDR process.
The CDR can be as simple as a phone call to you to ask how you are doing, or as comprehensive as a medical records review and a review of your financial status. To prevent the loss of benefits, or being asked to repay past benefits (an overpayment), people receiving SSD or SSI should keep the following things in mind:
– Continue to engage in care, just like you did before receiving benefits. If Social Security begins a Continuing Disability Review and notices you haven’t been to see any medical providers recently, they may conclude that your health has improved.
– If you are on SSI, keep Social Security informed if your household’s financial status changes. As Cheryl’s post mentioned, this review is not simply about your health, but will also evaluate if you still meet the financial guidelines for SSI.
– If your health improves so that you can return to full time work, it is best to proactively be in contact with Social Security rather than to wait for them to discover your improvement.