After being approved for Social Security disability benefits, you could face periodic reviews of your disability and your income. A continuing disability review, or CDR, can occur at anytime and can have an impact on whether or not you are approved to receive benefits. If you have been notified that you have an upcoming CDR, here is what you need to know.
What Is the Social Security Administration Looking For?
During the CDR, the Social Security Administration, or SSA, wants to ensure that you are still qualified to receive disability benefits. A CDR usually occurs every few years, but there are certain events that can trigger one. For instance, if you return to work and earn more than the substantial gain level, you could be re-evaluated.
The SSA has the discretion to only evaluate your income or disability. In some instances, the agency looks at both. To aid the SSA in evaluating your income and condition, you have to complete a form provided by the agency and submit evidence to support your right to continue to receive benefits.
For instance, if the CDR is a medical evaluation, you need to complete a release form so that the agency can obtain your medical records from your doctor. If you are being treated by other medical care providers that the SSA is not aware of, you need to provide contact information for those providers and sign a medical release form for each.
What If Your Benefits Are Stopped?
If the SSA completes the CDR and decides that you are no longer entitled to benefits, you have to act quickly. If you plan to appeal the decision, you need to file a request with the SSA to continue to receive your benefits while your appeal is being reviewed. A form for the request should be included with your denial letter. Return it as soon as possible to avoid a disruption in your benefits.
You also need to complete the Request for Reconsideration form included with your denial letter. On the form, you can state why you are entitled to continue to receive benefits. Once the form is received, you will be scheduled for a hearing.
You do not have to appear at the hearing, but it is in your best interests to do so. If the administrative law judge hearing your case has a question about your case, you can be on hand to answer him or her. However, if you are not present, a decision in your case could be delayed while the judge waits on an answer. Talk with an attorney like Duncan Disability Law SC for more help.
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