Disability › Keeping it

I’m approved for disability. How do I keep it?

For anyone approved for SSDI or SSI, and the family members who help them. By the end you’ll know how often SSA reviews your case, what to report, and what changes at full retirement age and at 65.

What is a continuing disability review?

A continuing disability review (CDR) is SSA’s check on whether your condition still keeps you from working. When you are approved, SSA decides how likely your condition is to improve. That decides how often you are reviewed.

For the last group, the regulation sets the review no more often than every 5 years and no less often than every 7.

How do I get ready for a review?

1. Keep up your treatment. Regular visits create the records SSA will ask for.
2. Keep a current list of your doctors, clinics, hospital stays and medicines, with dates.
3. Open SSA’s mail right away and answer by the date it gives.
4. Keep copies of everything you send.

If SSA decides you are no longer disabled, that is a decision you can appeal. Appeals have a short deadline. See what to do after a denial.

What do I need to report?

Tell Social Security about changes that affect your benefits. The big ones:

• Work. Starting a job, stopping one, or a change in pay. See working on disability for the limits.
• For SSI, money and living changes. Other income, savings, and who you live with. SSI’s savings limit is $2,000 for one person and $3,000 for a couple.

One rule changed in your favor. Since September 30, 2024, food that family or friends give you no longer counts against your SSI check.

What if work stops my checks?

If your benefits stop because you went back to work and your condition later stops you again, you may not have to start over. You can ask for expedited reinstatement within 5 years of the month your benefits stopped, for the same or a related condition. SSA can pay up to 6 months of temporary benefits while it reviews your request. This works for SSDI and SSI.

What happens at full retirement age?

Full retirement age is the age when Social Security pays your retirement benefit with no reduction for claiming early. When you reach it, your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits, and the amount stays the same. You don’t need to apply.

Born on January 1? SSA uses the year before. For example, someone born January 1, 1960 uses the 1959 row.

What changes for SSI at 65?

SSI is for people who have limited income and savings and are disabled, blind, or 65 or older. At 65 you can qualify on age alone, which means SSI no longer needs a disability decision to pay you. The money rules still apply.

When does Medicare start?

With SSDI, Medicare starts automatically in your 25th month of disability benefits. Because of SSDI’s 5-month waiting period, that is about 29 months after your disability began. People with ALS get Medicare as soon as their disability benefits start. With SSI, most states give you Medicaid automatically. See Medicare and Medicaid with a disability.

Related

Benefits Insider is an independent publisher, not a government agency. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice for your situation. For a decision on your case, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or your state Medicaid office.