Protection From Medical Continuing Disability Reviews

Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews disability cases periodically to see if the person with a disability still meets SSA disability rules. SSA performs two types of reviews, a medical continuing disability review and a work continuing disability review. Under a work review, SSA looks at earnings to determine if an individual is eligible for monthly benefits. A medical review determines if an individual is meeting the medical requirements to collect disability. If the person does not meet the medical requirements, SSA may stop the disability benefits.

A disabled beneficiary will not have to undergo a medical continuing disability review (CDR) based on work activity alone if he or she:

• has received disability benefits for at least 24 months; or
• is participating in the Ticket to Work program.

If a beneficiary qualifies for protection from a medical CDR based on work activity, he or she will still undergo a regularly scheduled medical CDR unless they are “using" their ticket under the Ticket to Work program. If you have questions, please call 1-800-772-1213.

For those interested in more information on the Ticket to Work, visit SSA's Work Site.