social security disability claim form

Once an individual has obtained Social Security Disability benefits it is important to understand which events can lead to a termination of this aid. In many cases, an individual who is receiving such benefits can expect them to continue for the coming months and years. However, if your condition improves, you return to work, or you reach full retirement age, your disability benefits may be affected. In order to avoid any surprises you should understand these concepts clearly.

Injured worker recovering from a work based injury who’s suffered disability benefits termination
  1. Your Condition Improves

    One of the basic qualifications for obtaining disability benefits is that the applicant suffers a disabling condition. After a person has been approved to receive benefits, the Social Security Administration monitors their condition by conducting a medical “continuing disability review” also known as a medical CDR. During a medical CDR the Administration looks at the individual’s condition and determines whether it is still disabling.

    If it is no longer disabling, the individual is no longer entitled to receive benefits. Generally, the criteria for determining the existence of a disability during a medical CDR are more relaxed than the criteria used during the review of an initial application. A medical CDR can be triggered the following events:

    • Beneficiary notifies the Administration of an improvement.

    • Evidence from a medical exam shows improvement.

    • Administration is notified of a failure to follow prescribed treatment.

    • New treatment is prescribed for the condition.
  2. Worker Returning to Work After a Workplace Injury terminating her disability benefits
  3. You Return to Work

    Another basic qualification for obtaining disability benefits is that the applicant cannot engage in “substantial gainful activity.” The essence of this concept is that a person earning over a threshold amount per month is engaged in “substantial gainful activity.”

    The Administration has stated that a person earning over $1,070 per month earns more than this threshold amount. After a person has obtained benefits, the Administration monitors their work activity by conducting a work CDR. If your work activity shows that an individual is earning more than $1,070 per month, the individual is no longer entitled to receive benefits.

  4. You Reach Full Retirement Age

    The Social Security Administration has a disability program as well as a supplemental security income program. A beneficiary cannot receive benefits under both programs at the same time. Therefore, when a person reaches full retirement age as defined by the Administration, he or she begins receiving supplemental security income and stops receiving disability benefits. Full retirement age depends on the year that a person was born.

Birth YearFull Retirement Age
195566 and 2 Months
195666 and 4 Months
195766 and 6 Months
195866 and 8 Months
195966 and 10 Months
1960 and Later67

If you unsure whether your disability benefits are going to be terminated in the near future, you should talk to the attorney who helped you obtain approval or your local Social Security Office.

Disability Benefits Termination Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been denied disability benefits, then you should contact the attorneys about appealing. We can talk to you about your situation and help you take the next step towards getting the benefits you deserve. Our Social Security Disability lawyers have handled thousands of claims and have the experience necessary to help you get the maximum benefits possible as soon as possible.

There are no legal fees for our services unless we are successful in appealing your denial. Feel free to call us anytime at 1-800-992-6878, or fill out an online contact form for a free legal consultation.

Author Photo

Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

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