After finally being informed you have been approved for Social Security disability benefits, probably the last thing on your mind is being required to go through the same process in a few years, but that is what most people who receive disability face through Social Security’s continuing review process. Because Social Security disability is not permanent, most beneficiaries will receive notice a few years after being found disabled that medical evidence will be reviewed to determine if someone remains disabled and qualified for benefits.
This can be a scary notice to receive, but it is not a time to panic. Everyone who receives a review notice should comply with all Social Security requests. Once the review is completed Social Security will issue a decision. If the decision is that the claimant remains disabled, benefits will continue, but if Social Security decides the claimant’s condition has improved enough to return to full-time work, benefits will cease and the claimant will have to appeal the decision to remain on benefits, similar to how they got on benefits the first time. Below, Social Security outlines the review process.
How often will my medical condition be reviewed?
The frequency of reviews depends on the nature and severity of your medical condition and whether it’s expected to improve.
- If improvement is expected, your first review generally will be six to 18 months after the date you became disabled;
- If improvement is possible, but can’t be predicted, we’ll review your case about every three years; and
- If improvement is not expected, we’ll review your case every seven years.
How will I be notified of a review?
When we decide a full medical review is needed, we’ll send you a letter asking you to come to the Social Security office.
What happens during a review?
At the review, we’ll ask how your medical condition affects you and whether it’s improved. We’ll ask you to bring your doctors’ names, addresses, and phone numbers and to bring patient record numbers for any hospitals and other medical sources that have treated you since we last contacted you. If you’ve worked since you applied for disability benefits, or since your last review, we also need information about the dates you worked, the pay you received, and the kind of work you did.
Who’ll make the disability decision?
We will send your case to the Disability Determination Services in your state. That agency makes disability decisions for Social Security. An experienced disability examiner will request medical reports from your doctors and from other places you go for treatment. The examiner and a medical consultant, who work together as a team, will carefully review all the information received for your case, and then make a decision.
How will they make the decision?
In most cases, the decision will be based on the information from your doctors, hospitals, or other medical sources. But, if the medical evidence is not complete or current, you may be asked to have a special examination at no cost to you. You’ll be notified in writing of the date, time, and place.
