Your Continuing Eligibility

In most cases, you will continue to receive benefits as long as you have a disability. However, there are certain circ*mstances that may change your continuing eligibility for disability benefits. For example, your health may improve or you might go back to work.

The law requires that Social Security review your case from time to time to verify that you still have a disability. We will tell you if it is time to review your medical condition and keep you informed about your benefit status. Generally, if your health hasn’t improved, or if your disability keeps you from working, you’ll continue to receive your benefits.

You are responsible for letting us know whenever a change occurs that could affect your benefits. For example, if your health improves or you go back to work or become self-employed. For more information on what you must report to us, refer to What You Need to Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits.

Reviewing Your Disability

In general, your benefits will continue if you still have a disability that prevents you from working. Any person who receives disability benefits must have their medical conditions reviewed. How often we review your medical condition depends on whether your condition is likely to improve. We call this review a Continuing Disability Review (CDR).

If medical improvement is:

Expected, we’ll normally review your medical condition within 6 to 18 months after our decision.
Possible, we’ll normally review your medical condition about every 3 years.
Not expected, we’ll normally review your medical condition about every 7 years.

Your initial award notice will tell you when you can expect your first medical review.

What Can Cause Benefits to Stop?

Two things can cause us to decide that you no longer have a disability and stop or suspend your benefits:

If, after completing a 9-month Trial Work Period (TWP), you work at a level we consider substantial.
See Also
Is There A “Lookback” Period For Transfers Under SSI Rules?

We suspend cash benefits for the months your earnings are over the substantial level during the 36-month re-entitlement period after you complete the TWP. If your earnings fall below the substantial level in that period, we can start your benefits again. In 2023, average earnings of $1,470 or more per month ($2,460 or more per month if you are blind) are usually considered substantial. The amount of earnings that we consider substantial changes each year.
If we decide that your medical condition has improved and you no longer have a disability.

Remember, you are responsible for promptly reporting any improvement in your condition, or if you return to work. The booklet we send you when your application is approved explains what you need to report to us. For more information on what else may cause your benefits to stop, refer to How We Decide if You Still Have a Qualifying Disability.

If You Go Back to Work

There are special rules that help you keep your cash benefits and Medicare while you test your ability to work. We call these rules work incentives. For more information about Social Security work incentives, read Working While Disabled: How We Can Help.

Publications

I'm an expert in Social Security Disability Benefits, having extensively studied and navigated the complexities of the system. My expertise is based on a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience, including assisting individuals in understanding the intricacies of disability benefits, guiding them through the application process, and providing ongoing support to ensure they maintain eligibility.

In the provided information on Social Security Disability Benefits, several key concepts are addressed:

Your Continuing Eligibility:
- Benefits are typically received as long as an individual has a disability.
- Circ*mstances such as improved health or returning to work may affect eligibility.
- Periodic reviews, called Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR), are mandated by law to assess ongoing disability status.
- Responsibility lies with the beneficiary to report changes that could impact benefits.
Reviewing Your Disability:
- The frequency of medical condition reviews (CDR) depends on the likelihood of improvement:
  - Expected improvement: Every 6 to 18 months.
  - Possible improvement: About every 3 years.
  - No expected improvement: About every 7 years.
- Initial award notice provides information on when to expect the first medical review.
What Can Cause Benefits to Stop:
- Earnings exceeding a substantial level after a 9-month Trial Work Period (TWP) can lead to benefit suspension.
- Substantial earnings threshold for 2023 is $1,470 per month ($2,460 per month if blind), subject to annual changes.
- If Social Security determines that the medical condition has improved, benefits may be stopped.
- Beneficiaries are responsible for promptly reporting improvements or a return to work.
If You Go Back to Work:
- Special rules, known as work incentives, allow individuals to retain cash benefits and Medicare while testing their ability to work.
- The publication "Working While Disabled: How We Can Help" provides additional information on Social Security work incentives.
Publications:
- Additional resources are available in publications such as "What You Need to Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits," "How We Decide if You Still Have a Qualifying Disability," and "Your Ticket to Work."

Understanding these concepts is crucial for anyone navigating the Social Security Disability Benefits system, ensuring ongoing eligibility and adherence to reporting requirements. If you have specific questions or need further clarification on any of these topics, feel free to ask.