Why Does the SSA Conduct Disability Reviews?

The SSA conducts disability reviews to:

• Ensure your medical condition still prevents you from working
• Determine if your health has improved enough for you to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA)

How Often Are Disability Reviews Conducted?

The frequency of your disability review depends on the severity of your condition and the likelihood of improvement:

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

Your case category is assigned at the time your benefits are approved.

What Happens During a Disability Review?

1. Receiving a Review Notice

You will receive a notice from SSA informing you that your case is under review. This notice will include forms requesting updates about your:

• Medical treatments and doctor visits
• Daily activities and how your condition affects them
• Work status since your last review

2. Completing Disability Review Forms

Depending on your case, SSA may send you:

• Short Form (SSA-455 Disability Update Report): For routine updates when improvement is not expected
• Long Form (SSA-454 Continuing Disability Review Report): Requires detailed information about your condition, treatment, and work activity since your last review

3. Providing Updated Medical Evidence

During the review, SSA will:

• Request updated medical records from your doctors and specialists
• Review test results, treatment notes, and doctor assessments
• Schedule a Consultative Examination (CE) with an SSA-appointed doctor if they need more information about your condition

4. Evaluating Your Work Activity

SSA will also check:

• If you have returned to work
• Whether 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 reviewing your case, SSA will issue one of two decisions:

• Benefits Continue: If your condition still meets SSA’s definition of disability, your benefits will continue.
• Benefits Terminated: If SSA determines your condition has improved enough for you to work, your benefits may end. You will receive a notice explaining this decision and your right to appeal.

What to Do If Your Benefits Are Terminated

If your benefits are terminated and you disagree with the decision, you can:

• File an appeal within 60 days of receiving the termination notice
• Request that your benefits continue while your appeal is pending, but this request must be made within 10 days of receiving the notice