Houston Social Security
Disability Attorney

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Photo of David Dopkin

What happens when the SSA reviews my disability- II?

On Behalf of | Aug 6, 2014 | Social Security Disability

In our previous post, we discussed how those people who receive much-needed disability benefits from the Social Security Administration will periodically be called upon to participate in medical reviews. In general, these medical reviews are held to examine a person’s disability status and, more importantly, ensure that there is no disruption in the administration of their benefits.

Today’s post, the second in a series, will continue to explore some basic background information about medical reviews as a means of providing valuable insight and dispelling certain myths.

Does the SSA notify people of an impending medical review or are they undertaken without their knowledge?

When the SSA decides to undertake a medical review, a beneficiary will be notified beforehand via a letter, which will include a time, date and location.

What information does the SSA want to see as part of the medical review?

Typically, the SSA will want to see detailed medical information related to the disability. This includes patient record numbers for healthcare organizations or hospitals that have provided treatment for the condition since the last time the agency initiated contact, as well as the names, phone numbers and addresses of any medical providers who have treated the condition.

Furthermore, if a person has secured employment either since the previous medical review or since securing disability benefits, the SSA will want relevant information, including the dates worked, the type of work performed and the pay received.

Who makes the decision concerning whether disability benefits continue?

The SSA forwards the information to the Disability Determinations Services in a person’s home state, where a disability examiner, working in conjunction with a medical consultant, will conduct a comprehensive investigation of the above-mentioned information and make a decision.

In future posts, we will learn more about the decision-making process and, if necessary, options for appealing the decision.

Source: Social Security Administration, “What you need to know: Reviewing your disability,” July 2014