Why Does SSA Conduct Disability Reviews?

SSA conducts disability reviews to:

• Confirm that your medical condition continues to prevent you from working
• Determine whether your health has improved enough for you to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA)

How Often Are Disability Reviews Conducted?

The frequency of your review depends on the likelihood of improvement in your condition:

• Medical Improvement Expected (MIE): Review every 6 to 18 months
• Medical Improvement Possible (MIP): Review approximately every 3 years
• Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE): Review approximately every 5 to 7 years

SSA assigns your review category when your benefits are first approved.

What Happens During a Disability Review?

1. Receiving a Review Notice

SSA will send you a notice stating that your case is under review. The notice will include forms requesting updates about your:

• Current medical condition and symptoms
• Recent doctor visits, hospitalizations, or treatments
• Work activity since your last review

2. Completing Disability Review Forms

Depending on your situation, SSA may send:

• Short Form (SSA-455 Disability Update Report): A simple update for cases where improvement is not expected
• Long Form (SSA-454 Continuing Disability Review Report): Requires detailed information about your medical condition, treatments, and work activity

3. Providing Updated Medical Evidence

SSA will:

• Request updated medical records from your doctors, specialists, and hospitals
• Review lab tests, imaging studies, and treatment notes
• Schedule a Consultative Examination (CE) with an SSA-appointed doctor if they need additional information about your condition

4. Evaluating Your Work Activity

SSA will determine:

• Whether you have returned to work
• If your earnings exceed the SGA limit, which in 2025 is $1,550 per month ($2,590 if blind)

Possible Outcomes of a Disability Review

After completing the review, SSA will decide to:

• Continue Your Benefits: If your condition still meets SSA’s definition of disability
• Terminate Your Benefits: If SSA determines that your condition has improved enough for you to return to work

You will receive a written notice explaining their decision.

What If Your Benefits Are Terminated?

If SSA decides to end your benefits:

• You have the right to appeal the decision within 60 days
• You can request to continue receiving your benefits during the appeal, but you must request this within 10 days of receiving the termination notice