If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you’ll periodically need to undergo a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to determine if you still qualify for these benefits. The key to protecting your disability benefits is understanding how Continuing Disability Reviews work, preparing properly, and responding promptly to Social Security Administration requests with accurate and updated information.

Call 872-529-9377 to have the Chicago Social Security disability lawyers at Ankin Law evaluate your case and answer any questions.

What Is a Continuing Disability Review?

A Continuing Disability Review is a periodic evaluation that the SSA conducts to determine whether you still meet the medical and financial requirements for SSI or SSDI benefits. During the review, the agency assesses your medical records, compliance with treatment, overall health, employment status, and income. The review involves filling out a form and submitting your recent medical records. The SSA could also ask for additional examinations, for example, if you have insufficient medical records.

Continuing Disability Reviews could affect how much disability pays, as the SSA could decide to discontinue your disability benefits if the review shows an improvement in your medical condition, or if you continue to work despite your condition. You have the right to appeal a CDR decision if the SSA stops your disability benefits.

How Often Do CDRs Happen and What Triggers a Review

The frequency of Continuing Disability Reviews depends on how likely the SSA thinks a claimant’s medical condition is likely to improve. Events like returning to work, improvement in health, treatment noncompliance, fraud, and an SSI recipient’s 18th birthday can trigger a CDR.

The SSA normally reviews your claim in six to 18 months if it expects your medical condition to improve. If the SSA believes that medical improvement is possible, it will conduct a CDR around every three years. If improvement isn’t possible, the agency will review your claim around every seven years. The notice you get when you’re first approved to get SSDI benefits should contain your first CDR timeframe.

Besides the routine periodic CDRs, the following factors can trigger a CDR:

  • Resuming work: Returning to work within the first 24 months of your entitlement to disability benefits can trigger a Continuing Disability Review for SSDI. Earning above the substantial gainful activity level ($1,690 per month for 2026) can also trigger a review.
  • Health improvement: The SSA may initiate a CDR if you report to the agency that your health has improved or new evidence of improvement of your condition becomes available.
  • Treatment noncompliance: The SSA may review your case if it learns that you’re not following the required treatments.
  • Fraud: Accusations of misrepresenting facts can trigger a CDR.
  • Child turns 18: A child receiving SSI benefits will trigger the SSI continuing disability review process when he or she turns 18. According to the 2024 SSI Annual Statistical Report, there were 32,657 SSI recipients under the age of 18 in Illinois.
  • New treatment available: New treatments for your condition could reduce or eliminate your limitations, hence triggering a CDR.

How to Protect Your SSDI or SSI Benefits During a CDR

You can protect your SSDI or SSI benefits during a CDR by complying with your medical treatment, maintaining thorough documentation, responding promptly to SSA requests, being honest about your functional limitations, and consulting a disability attorney when you need help.

Keep Up With Treatment

Attend medical appointments consistently and follow prescribed treatments. The records generated help demonstrate to the SSA that your condition is still disabling. Gaps in treatment may make the SSA assume that your health has improved.

Maintain Updated and Detailed Records

Keep a record of your doctor’s visits and notes, lab results, treatments, and medications. Work with your doctors to ensure your records accurately reflect your condition, including the severity of your symptoms and limitations.

Respond Promptly

Respond promptly to the SSA’s review requests. Provide accurate information and thorough medical documentation. Incomplete or delayed responses could result in the discontinuation of your disability benefits.

Be Honest

As much as you’d like the SSA to clearly understand your capabilities and limitations, avoid exaggerating or lying as you fill out the CDR form. Exaggerations could undermine your credibility and lead to additional SSA examinations.

Appeal Immediately

If the SSA decides to stop your benefits after the CDR process, you’ll have 60 days to appeal. However, if you file your appeal within 10 days of receiving the notice, you’ll continue receiving disability benefits until the appeal is decided.

Seek Professional Guidance

Consulting a Social Security disability lawyer can improve your chances of a successful CDR. He or she can help you gather proper documentation, fill forms accurately and completely, and represent you during the appeals process in case of an unfavorable CDR outcome to have your disability benefits reinstated.

Ankin Law disability attorneys have been helping clients navigate Social Security disability processes in Chicago for years. Contact Ankin Law to discuss your situation in a free consultation.

Continuing Disability Reviews FAQs

What Happens If I Fail a Continuing Disability Review?

You could lose your disability benefits if you fail a Continuing Disability Review. You’ll continue receiving benefits if you file an appeal within 10 days of getting the denial. If you ultimately lose the appeal, the SSA will consider the benefits paid during the appeals process as a disability overpayment. However, you can request a waiver if you made the appeal in good faith.

Can My SSDI or SSI Benefits Stop During a CDR?

Unless you’re found to be working and performing substantial gainful activity, your disability benefits will continue while a CDR is pending. Your benefits can be halted after a CDR has been conducted and the SSA determines that your medical condition has significantly improved, and you can resume work.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for a Continuing Disability Review?

A disability lawyer can provide professional guidance throughout the Continuing Disability Review process. It’s especially important to hire a lawyer if you need to appeal a CDR determination to discontinue your benefits, have complicated medical issues, need help gathering strong evidence, or are unsure about your situation or the CDR process.