When a person applies for Social Security disability benefits, they may not realize that their benefits may one day be discontinued. Whether recipients suffer from developmental disabilities or physical impairments, the Social Security Administration wants to know that a person is still legitimately disabled and unable to work if they are receiving government money. When a case is reviewed to determine a person's continuing eligibility, it is called a Continuing Disability Review.
Pittsburgh residents going through the SSD application process may find it is helpful to be informed of not only the initial expectations to receive payments, but also what steps need to be taken, if any, to continue eligibility.
When a person applies and is approved for Social Security disability or Supplemental Security Income, they receive one of three labels: Medical Improvement Expected, Medical Improvement Possible or Medical Improvement Not Expected. If a recipient is under 50 and in the first category, they will likely receive a review before those in the second category.
Children who are receiving SSI because of a disability are re-evaluated when they turn 18 to determine if they can join the work force.
In some cases, recipients benefit more from the insurance and health care that come with SSDI and SSI than the monthly checks. For those people, their illnesses range from intelligence quotients in the lowest one percentile, advanced cancer and autoimmune diseases such as AIDS.
A Continuing Disability Review may be triggered by unexpected income that may indicate a job. A judge can also order a review after a surgery or treatment intended to improve a medical condition. CDRs can be ordered for babies as young as 1-years-old.
Cases involving people undergoing Continuing Disability Reviews are often unwanted by lawyers because the clients cannot afford to pay. One Board Certified Social Security Disability Specialist said that the CDR process is unknown by most people, even if they receive disability. Her firm accepts clients who have been rejected by at least two private law firms. Her firm experiences no shortage of cases.
Source: Jackson Sun, "Social Security and disability reviews", Beth Bates, Feb. 27, 2012
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