Continuing Disability Review (CDR)

A Continuing Disability Review is an evaluation that law requires the Social Security Administration to  review every person who is receiving Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. It is intended to check on people receiving benefits to see who still qualifies for benefits and who does not.

Claims are reviewed three or seven years depending on the condition and the possibility that a condition will improve. If a claimant has a condition that is expected to improve, a CDR may be held sooner than 3 years. On the other hand, if a claimant has a condition that is not expected to improve then that claim may be reviewed less than every 7 years. Even people with permanent disabilities will still need a periodic CDR. Continuing Disability Reviews are often conducted more frequently for people under 50 years of age.

The review process is that the SSA will notify you by mail when your time for a review comes up.  You will receive one of two forms depending on if your condition is expected to improve or not. You should submit any updated medical evidence along with your review form. The SSA will usually look at the 12 months prior to the review but occasionally will look further back.

The SSA will determine if your medical condition has improved. If it has not then the review process will be completed and your benefits will not change. If your medical condition has improved then the SSA needs to determine if the improvement will affect your ability to work or not. If the improvement does not affect your ability to work then you will continue to receive benefits. If the SSA decides that your condition has improved enough that you would be able to return to work then you will be notified that your benefits will stop. You will have the chance to appeal this decision.

A Continuing Disability Review may be prompted in addition to the standard review if you return to work, inform the SSA that your condition has improved, a third-party tells the SSA that you are not following protocol or if a new treatment for your condition becomes available.