When you receive Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not necessarily consider your disability to be a permanent status. Even those suffering with permanently disabling conditions are subject to continuing disability reviews (CDRs). You will probably be the subject of a CDR approximately every three years to determine if you are still eligible for benefits. If you’ve returned to work or if your condition has improved so that you can resume work, you could lose your benefits. If you are notified that your benefits are going to cease, you can appeal to a disability hearing officer (DHO), but when you appeal, you should have the help of an experienced Los Angeles Social Security disability attorney.
If you receive monthly Social Security disability benefits, should you be concerned about CDRs? Perhaps. If you haven’t been taking your medications, obtaining treatments, or keeping healthcare appointments, the SSA may decide that you are no longer disabled, and your payments will cease. A CDR will also look at your income. For example, if you’ve taken a part-time job, your benefits could be jeopardized. If you haven’t returned to work, the SSA will first determine if there has been any improvement in your condition. If the answer is no, your benefits will not be affected. If the answer is yes, and if the SSA comes to the conclusion that your condition has improved so that you can return to work, you will be notified that your payments will stop, and you will be given the opportunity to appeal. That’s precisely when you need to call a good disability attorney.
The SSA intends to conduct 830,000 CDRs this year. If you receive monthly Social Security disability benefits but you have not recently had a continuing disability review, assume that you will. In southern California, if you have any concerns or questions about disability benefits or CDRs, or if you are recently disabled and you need to apply for disability benefits, take your case at once to an experienced Los Angeles Social Security disability attorney.