Will My SSDI Benefits End?

If you have recently become disabled and are planning to seek Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, or you were recently approved for benefits, you might be confused about how long you can expect to receive benefits for. In other words, you may be wondering: will my SSDI benefits end? In response to this question, there are two key things to know: if your disability improves to the point that you are able to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA), or you reach full retirement age, your SSDI benefits will end. However, reaching full retirement age does not mean that you will stop receiving benefits, only that they will shift from SSDI benefits to Social Security retirement benefits. Our national disability benefits lawyers can explain.

Change in Disability and Eligibility 

In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have a disability that prevents you from engaging in what the Social Security Administration (SSA) calls “substantial gainful activity.” In short, your disability must be such that you cannot earn more than a certain amount of money through work. If there is a change — i.e., if your condition improves — and you are able to engage in substantial gainful activity, then your SSDI benefits may end.

SSDI recipients are supposed to report changes to the SSA, but they should also expect that their case will undergo a review to assess medical improvement. This process is known as Continuing Disability Review (CDR). CDR occurs first around 6 to 18 months after you are initially approved for benefits, and then approximately every 3 years or at longer intervals. Even if you do experience medical improvement, you may be able to continue receiving SSDI benefits by entering into a “trial work period.”

If a CDR results in you becoming ineligible for SSDI benefits but you do not agree with the decision, you can work with a national disability benefits lawyer on an appeal.

Conversion to Social Security Retirement Benefits at Full Retirement Age 

Your SSDI benefits will also stop once you reach full retirement age, but this is only because your SSDI benefits will convert to Social Security retirement benefits. In other words, you will not stop receiving payments, but the payments will no longer be SSDI payments and will instead be Social Security retirement payments.

Full retirement age depends on a person’s year of birth. For individuals born between 1943-54, full retirement age is 66. The full retirement age gradually increases for each birth year after 1954 until 1960, where the full retirement age is 67. For anyone born in 1960 and later, the full retirement age is currently set at 67.

 Contact A National SSDI Benefits Attorney Today for Assistance 

Do you have questions about the timeline for your SSDI benefits, or questions about what to expect from a Continuing Disability Review? One of the experienced national SSDI benefits attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can speak with you today. We can answer any questions you have, can provide you with additional information about SSDI benefits, and can assist you with any application or appeal. Contact us today for help with your SSDI case.

Sources:

ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html

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