Disability Benefits | Your Continuing Eligibility (En español)

Your Continuing Eligibility

In most cases, you will continue to receive benefits as long as you have a disability. However, there are circumstances that may affect your continuing eligibility for disability benefits. For example, your health may improve or you may 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 when 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 still 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, read our publication, 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 1st medical review.

If you get disability benefits you can complete and submit the Medical Continuing Disability Review Report (SSA-454) online. The online option is available to any adult who receives Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, or both, and who does not have a representative payee. To complete the form online, sign in to your personal my Social Security account and select "Complete Your Continuing Disability Review". If you do not have an account, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount to get started.

What Can Cause Benefits to Be Suspended or Stop?

Two things can cause us to suspend or stop your benefits:

  1. If, after completing a 9-month Trial Work Period (TWP), you work and earn at a level we consider substantial.

During the 36-month re-entitlement period after you complete the TWP, we suspend cash benefits for any months your earnings are over the substantial level. If your work and earnings fall below the substantial level for any months in that period, we can start your benefits again. In 2024, average earnings of $1,550 or more per month ($2,590 or more per month if you are blind) are usually considered substantial. The amount of earnings that we consider substantial changes each year. Benefits will end if work and earnings are above the substantial level after the 36-month re-entitlement period.

  1. If we decide that your medical condition has improved and you no longer have a disability.

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, read our publication, 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 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 The Red Book and Working While Disabled: How We Can Help.

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