Continuing Eligibility for Social Security Disability Benefits

Philadelphia Social Security Disability Eligibility

At Silver & Silver, after we have helped our clients secure the disability benefits for which they are entitled under the law, our Social Security Disability attorneys continue to guide them and answer questions regarding maintaining eligibility for benefits.

If you are currently receiving Social Security Disability benefits, you may have the following questions:

• How long will I receive disability benefits?
• Will my disability benefits last forever?
• What do I have to do to keep receiving disability benefits?
• Do I need to fill out any more applications or see more doctors?

These questions raise understandable uncertainty. You may depend on Social Security Disability benefits for basic living needs and healthcare. Understanding if and when your eligibility might end is imperative.

Duration of Social Security Disability Benefits

Once Social Security Disability benefits begin, you may then become concerned about how long they will continue. The short answer is that in most cases, once a recipient is collecting Social Security Disability benefits, it is likely that they will continue to receive benefits for their lifetime, as long as they remain disabled. It is assumed that with age, their disabling condition will likely get worse, not better. Also, the older a person gets, the more likely their work skills will diminish and their ability to find work they are capable of doing decreases. It is also generally assumed that the older a person gets, the harder it will be for them to learn new job skills.

However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is charged with reviewing disability cases periodically to see if the person who has previously been approved for disability benefits still meets SSA disability qualifications.

The SSA performs two types of reviews: a work continuing disability review and a medical continuing disability review.

1. Under a work continuing disability review, the SSA will determine if you are working and look at your earnings to determine if you are still eligible for benefits.
2. A medical review will determine if your medical condition still constitutes a “disability” pursuant to the SSA requirements.

Circumstances Affecting Eligibility for Disability Benefits

Returning to Work; Substantial Gainful Activity; Work Incentives.

Certain circumstances may affect your eligibility to collect Social Security Disability benefits.

Benefits typically discontinue if you return to work, or in Social Security terms, engage in “substantial gainful activity”. The SSA defines substantial gainful activity as work involving significant and productive duties; paying more than the current monthly income limit set by the SSA – $1,090 for 2015; and including part-time work that pays less and/or involves less responsibility than your regular employment.

When reviewing your eligibility for continuing benefits, the SSA will employ the same process for determining whether you are involved in substantial gainful activity as when you originally applied for benefits.

Click here to read the about the 5-Step Social Security Disability Claims Qualification Review Process.

If you are determined to be working, that is, engaged in substantial gainful activity, then your eligibility for benefits will likely be terminated, even if your medical condition has not improved.

There are special rules that may allow you to continue receiving Social Security Disability benefits for a while after you return to work. The special rules, called “Work Incentives”, seek to encourage you to return to work to test your ability to return to substantial gainful activity.

Work incentives include:

• Continued cash benefits for a time while you work;
• Continued Medicare or Medicaid while you work; and
• Assistance with education, training and vocational rehabilitation to start a new line of work.

The Philadelphia disability attorneys at Silver & Silver can guide you through the “work incentive” process if that is right for your situation and ensure that you continue to receive the disability benefits to which you are entitled.

Improvement in Medical Condition.

Your continuing eligibility to collect Social Security Disability benefits will stop if your medical condition improves to the point that you are no longer considered disabled.

If your medical condition improves, it is your responsibility to inform the SSA. However, the SSA is required by law to periodically review your case.

The frequency of the reviews depends on the probability of your condition improving, specifically:

• If your medical condition is “expected” to improve, your case will be reviewed within six to eighteen months after your benefits start.
• If it is “possible” that your medical condition will improve, your case will be reviewed no sooner than three years.
• If it is “not expected” that your medical condition will improve, your case will not be reviewed any sooner than seven years after you started receiving benefits.

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The Philadelphia Area Disability Attorneys at Silver & Silver Help Clients Maintain Continuing Eligibility for Social Security Disability Benefits

The Philadelphia Social Security Disability attorneys at Silver & Silver guide our clients through the Social Security Administration’s Continuation Review to help ensure that a successful Disability claim stays a successful Disability claim. Our attorneys work diligently to gather the necessary evidence so that our clients’ continuation review for benefits is presented in the most advantageous light. If an appeal to an Administrative Judge becomes necessary, our experienced, skillful litigators are prepared to fight for our clients’ rights in court. We strive to provide superior legal representation so that our clients will be awarded and then maintain the Disability benefits to which they are entitled.

With offices in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, we are conveniently located to meet with disabled individuals and their families throughout the Philadelphia region including Delaware County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County and Berks County, as well as the South Jersey communities of Camden County, Burlington County, Gloucester County, Cumberland County and Atlantic County and others. Call us to schedule a free consultation at 610-658-0500 or 1-800-94-SILVER or contact us online and we will get back to you within two business days.

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Working Part-Time in Philadelphia During the Disability Process Video.