1. Why Does SSA Conduct Disability Reviews?

Disability reviews, formally called Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs), are required by federal law to:

• Ensure recipients remain eligible under SSA’s definition of disability
• Identify medical improvement that may affect benefit eligibility
• Verify that beneficiaries still meet income and resource requirements (for SSI recipients)

2. How Often Are Disability Reviews Conducted in Missouri?

The frequency of reviews depends on the likelihood of your medical improvement:

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

Your initial disability award notice typically states your review category, but SSA can adjust intervals based on your condition and treatment updates.

3. What Happens During a Disability Review?

Step 1: Receiving the Review Notice

SSA will mail you a notice indicating that a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) is being conducted. For SSDI reviews, they focus on medical eligibility. For SSI reviews, both medical and financial eligibility are assessed.

Step 2: Completing the Disability Update Report (Short Form) or Continuing Disability Review Report (Long Form)

Depending on your case:

• Short Form (SSA-455): Used when SSA believes your condition is unlikely to have improved. It asks about recent doctor visits, treatments, hospitalizations, and work activity.
• Long Form (SSA-454): Used if medical improvement is possible. It requires detailed information about your current medical condition, treatments, medications, doctors, hospitalizations, and any work activity.

Step 3: SSA Review of Your Submitted Information

SSA reviews your forms and may:

• Determine continued eligibility based on your report alone
• Request additional medical records from your doctors
• Schedule a Consultative Examination (CE) with an SSA-approved doctor if your medical records are insufficient

Step 4: Disability Determination Services (DDS) Evaluation

Your case is sent to Disability Determination Services (DDS) in Missouri, where medical examiners and consulting doctors assess:

• Whether your medical condition has improved
• Whether any improvement affects your ability to work
• Your current Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) to determine if you can perform substantial gainful activity (SGA)

4. What Are Possible Outcomes of a Disability Review?

After the review, SSA will send a written decision stating:

• Continued Benefits: Your condition still meets SSA’s definition of disability, and payments continue as normal.
• Benefits Stopped Due to Medical Improvement: If SSA determines your condition has improved enough to return to work, benefits will cease after two months.

5. Can You Appeal a Termination of Benefits?

Yes. If your benefits are stopped after a CDR:

• You have 60 days to appeal the decision.
• If you appeal within 10 days of receiving the notice, you can request that your benefits continue during the appeal process. However, if you lose your appeal, you may have to repay those continued benefits.

Appeals progress through reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), Appeals Council review, and federal court, similar to an initial application appeal.

6. How to Prepare for a Disability Review in Missouri

• Continue medical treatment consistently. Gaps in treatment can harm your review outcome.
• Maintain detailed records of doctor visits, tests, treatments, medications, and functional limitations.
• Inform SSA of any changes in address or contact information to ensure you receive review notices.
• Consult your doctor about how your condition affects your daily activities so medical records reflect your true limitations.

7. Does Working Affect Your Disability Review?

If you are working:

• SSA evaluates whether your work exceeds Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limits ($1,550 per month for non-blind individuals in 2024).
• They consider Trial Work Periods (TWP) for SSDI recipients, which allow you to test working for up to nine months without losing benefits.
• For SSI recipients, earnings reduce payments but do not necessarily terminate eligibility unless they exceed income limits.