Social Security Disability (SSD) payments are subject to reviews. It’s important to know how this process works and what you should expect, even after you’ve been approved and you’d been receiving payments.
First off, if the doctors think your condition will improve, the SSDI officials will want to do a review in the first six months to a year and a half. If they think you may improve but it’s not necessarily predicted, then the reviews will happen about every 36 months. If they never expect you to improve, they’ll still do reviews, but they’ll happen every five to seven years.
Part of the review is just an interview. They want to know how you’re doing, what your condition is like and what procedures may have been done since the last review. You’re just updating them on your situation.
If more information is needed, they may then set up a special medical appointment. This is done at no cost to you. They’ll even pay for your transportation.
They won’t tell you the results at the review. Instead, they’ll mail you a letter shortly after. If the benefits are supposed to continue, nothing changes. If they’re altered or cancelled, though, you just get three more months of current payments.
Now, you may disagree with the decision, which is why it’s so important to know all of your legal rights. You can appeal the decision and potentially go to court. This could happen if they decide you no longer qualify for benefits and are no longer disabled, for instance, while medical professionals tell you that you still are.
Source: Social Security Administration, “What You Need to Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits,” accessed Dec. 11, 2017