Why Does SSA Review SSDI Benefits?

SSA conducts reviews to:

• Confirm your medical condition still prevents you from working
• Determine whether your health has improved enough for you to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA)

How Often Will Your SSDI Case Be Reviewed?

The frequency of your review depends on the likelihood of improvement in your condition:

• Medical Improvement Expected (MIE): Reviewed every 6 to 18 months
• For conditions where recovery or significant improvement is likely (e.g., certain surgeries or injuries with high recovery rates)
• Medical Improvement Possible (MIP): Reviewed approximately every 3 years
• For conditions where improvement is possible but not guaranteed (e.g., some chronic illnesses or mental health conditions)
• Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE): Reviewed approximately every 5 to 7 years
• For permanent or progressive conditions where improvement is unlikely (e.g., advanced neurological disorders, terminal illnesses)

SSA assigns your medical review category when your benefits are first approved.

What Happens During a Disability Review?

1. Receiving a Review Notice

SSA will send you a notice by mail when your review is due. This will include forms requesting updated information about your:

• Medical condition and symptoms
• Recent treatments, hospitalizations, and doctor visits
• Work activity since your last review

2. Completing the Review Forms

Depending on your case, you may receive:

• Short Form (SSA-455 Disability Update Report): For cases where improvement is not expected
• Long Form (SSA-454 Continuing Disability Review Report): For detailed updates on your condition and ability to work

3. Providing Updated Medical Evidence

SSA will:

• Request updated medical records from your doctors, specialists, and hospitals
• Review all treatment notes, imaging studies, and test results
• Schedule a Consultative Examination (CE) with an SSA-appointed doctor if they need additional information about your condition

Possible Outcomes After a Review

After completing your CDR, SSA will decide to:

• Continue Your Benefits: If your medical condition still prevents you from working
• Terminate Your Benefits: If SSA determines that your condition has improved enough for you to return to work

What If SSA Terminates Your Benefits?

If SSA decides to end your benefits:

• You have the right to appeal their decision within 60 days
• You can request to continue receiving your benefits during the appeal, but you must request this within 10 days of receiving the termination notice