Social Security Changes Continuing Disability Review Process

Social Security disability attorneys regularly receive calls from final clients surprised to learn that years after they’ve been approved for benefits, the Social Security Administration will review their case to see if they’re still disabled.

In the majority of cases, this is a formality. Medical records are reviewed. SSA finds no improvement, and benefits continue being paid out without issue. In some cases though, Social Security finds medical improvement and seeks to terminate benefits, resulting in a lengthy and frustrating appeals process.

Historically, continuing disability reviews are done by state agencies, the same offices that review the initial and reconsideration determinations for SSA. 

But Social Security just announced it is moving continuing disability reviews in-house as part of its federal Disability Case Review program.

So, what does this mean for the average person receiving disability benefits? At least at this point in time, not much. Disability reviews will continue to be processed using the same criteria, just by a different government office.

Social Security claims that moving the reviews in-house will free up resources at the state level to process initial applications and reconsideration appeals, though exactly how much that will speed up the lengthy process is unclear.

The core issue with wait times currently is simply that Social Security has lost a of its staff to attrition and funding cuts. Without hiring additional employees, wait times can only be sped up so much. Continuing disability reviews were also not a huge component of what stage agencies did, so exactly how much this will help applicants remains to be seen.