Social security disability offers a substantial relief for recipients, but there are some events that may trigger the Social Security Administration to cut off the benefits a recipient receives. Benefits may also be reduced to pay delinquent tax debts or old student loans. The SSA sets a medical diary date to determine a recipient’s continued eligibility for disability payments.
In addition to possible medical improvements, people may lose their benefits if they earn more than the threshold amount of allowable income in a month or if they are imprisoned. A disability lawyer in Chicago may help his or her client with appealing a decision to terminate his or her client’s disability benefits.
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Continuing Medical Reviews
When people suffer from medical conditions that leave them disabled and unable to work, the SSA will categorize them into one of three categories, including likely to improve, improvement possible or no improvement possible. Those who fall within the likely to improve category should expect to have a continuing medical review within three years of first being approved for benefits. The agency will examine whether or not the recipients still qualify for benefits according to the agency’s guidelines.
People in the other two categories should also expect to be reviewed for their continuing eligibility but at longer intervals. If the agency sends a decision letter notifying a recipient that his or her benefits are being terminated, the recipient has a short time period to file an appeal of the decision. A disability lawyer in Chicago may help his or her client with filing the appeal and litigating the issue.
Work Triggers or Imprisonment
The Social Security Administration is able to access the tax records of people who receive disability. They routinely check whether people are earning more than is allowed while they are also receiving SSDI. While people are allowed to work for a nine-month trial period in order to see if they are able to return to work, if they earn more than $1,090 in any month, their benefits may be cut off because the agency will believe that they are no longer disabled. People may also lose their benefits if they are imprisoned.
It is important for people to understand what could make them lose their SSDI benefits. If they do, they have the right to appeal the decision.
