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Social Security Benefits

What are my options of the SSA determines that I am not disabled anymore and is cutting off my Social Security benefits? All cases that pass through the Social Security Administration are reviewed periodically in order to determine if the member is still disabled. These review periods vary depending on the particular condition. If the member's condition is expected to improve, he or she will be up for review in 6 to 30 months. If a possibility that the condition will improve remains, the review will be undertaken after 3 years. If the condition is deemed permanent, a review will be done in 5 to 7 years.

The review will be conducted by the Disability Determination Services department of the Social Security Administration in order to find out if the member should go on receiving Social Security benefits. The member will go through an interview process and will be asked about his or her condition since being granted Social Security benefits. A medical examiner will then determine the present state of the member's medical condition. If the results show that the member can go back to work, the Social Security benefits will be discontinued.

If you disagree with the findings of this review process, an appeal may be filed with the office of the Social Security Administration. You may then be asked to attend a hearing, upon which time a reconsideration decision will be made. If the decision to discontinue your Social Security Benefits still stands, you may make an appeal in a federal district court or present your case before a judge of administrative law.

Will SSA pay me to care for my disabled spouse? While the SSA does not pay caregivers of disabled spouses directly, they may be able to receive benefits of their own. These benefits will be given every month and can be up to 50 percent of the disability benefits of your spouse. Keep in mind that there is a limit to the total amount of social security benefits that can be given to a family based on your spouse's Social Security account.

The VA found me disabled. Won't SSA come to the same conclusion? One of the main differences between the SSA system and the VA system is that the SSA does not place percentage levels on disability. This means that while the VA system can find an applicant only partially disabled and therefore be eligible for benefits the SSA may determine that no disability exists.