While you received a recent approval for Social Security Disability, you must realize that you may lose eligibility. What could make your benefits end?
The Social Security Administration breaks down life changes and circumstances that could cause an SSD recipient’s eligibility to change. Educate yourself on how disability works to protect your financial health.
Returning to work
Depending on your disability prognosis and recovery, you may feel well enough to return to work one day. While you may work and receive SSD simultaneously, you cannot work at a level the SSA considers “substantial.” Otherwise, you lose your disability eligibility. The administration’s definition of “substantial” changes every year, so research the latest amount you may earn and still qualify for benefits. Also, you must let the administration know if you go back to work.
Improved medical condition
To check that an SSD recipient still meets the definition of “disabled,” the SSA conducts regular medical condition reviews. How often a person undergoes a continuing disability review depends on the individual’s category of medical improvement.
A person with a medical improvement classified as “not expected” typically undergoes a review no sooner than seven years. Those with “expected” medical improvement should expect a review within six to 18 months of receiving their initial benefits. Recipients classified as “possible” often receive a visit from the administration roughly every three years. Read over your initial award notice to see when you undergo your first continuing disability review.
You must let the SSA know if your medical condition improves. If the review reveals your current medical condition no longer meets the administration’s definition of disabled, you may lose your benefits.
A lack of knowledge may put your disability benefits in jeopardy. By getting ahead of a potential disaster, you may better experience peace of mind.