The Social Security Administration delivers a lot more payments than the well-known retirement benefits and each one is different and serves a different demographic. It can be complicated to keep track of all the payments, especially considering that different payments have different days of distributions and vastly different requirements that challenge eligibility, like for example, Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI), which, as their name indicates, are meant for people who cannot work due to a disability.
SSDI beneficiaries are eligible as long as they meet two conditions:
- They are blind or have a disability that affects their ability to work for a year or more, or will result in death.
- AND, have worked for at least 5 of the last 10 years to qualify for SSDI. People under the age of 24 may not need to have worked as long.
One curious thing about SSDI is that qualifying for benefits is an ongoing and periodic process. With the change in administration this need to qualify has become even more dire, as many recipients have begun receiving letters stating that their benefits will be cut if they do not meet certain conditions. Of course these letters are worrisome, but the reality is that, unless you have a disability that permanently and irrevocably stops you from working, the Social Security Administration will periodically review your SSDI application in order to ensure that you are still unable to work and deserve the benefit.
Some reasons why the Social Security Administration would stop SSDI
The fact that many disabling conditions do not last forever is a good thing, and receiving SSDI is a great help for those who need it, but it does not mean that it is the long term goal for most adults. In fact, many people on SSDI return to work. This is the first reason why your benefits might get cut, returning to work can trigger a review and if you earn over the allotted limit for income, your benefits will not just be reduced, but they might be stopped altogether since you have proven that you can contribute to society without government assistance. This does not mean that you cannot reapply for benefits should your condition worsen or they are incapable to continue working.
In both of those scenarios, the beneficiary will have to go back to their doctor and go through the review process once again.
Another reason why benefits may be cut is because the Social Security Administration believes that the conditions that made them qualify for benefits have improved enough that receiving SSDI is unnecessary, and that the person can return to work. While this might be true in some cases, other times the decision is made quite hastily, and you will need to meet with doctors and reviews again to appeal your case.
There is a process called “Expedited Reinstatement,” to help with these cases that allows beneficiaries to get some benefits while their case is being reviewed, but do bear in mind that if the case gets dismissed, you might be on the hook for any income you received during that time.
The last reason why your benefits might get cut is because you did not answer letters or requests from Social Security in a timely manner. This is seen by the Administration as lack of cooperation and will get SSDI suspended until you answer the summons and get requalified. Male sure that all your information is up to date and that you receive any and all communications to your current address to avoid any issued with the Administration. Submit all your paperwork on time or file for extensions if you need them, but do not let the issue go for long.