CAN SOCIAL SECURITY TAKE AWAY YOUR BENEFITS?
Can Social Security cease or take away your disability benefits?
This is one of the most common questions we hear at Cannon Disability Law. And the short answer is “yes.”
Even if you win benefits, the SSA can cease or take away your benefits. This is true whether you receive SSDI or SSI benefits. But, they can only do so if your health condition improves. They determine improvement by looking at your mental and physical condition through your medical records. At any point in the future, the SSA can review your medical records. If they decide you no longer have a disability, then they can take away your benefits. The SSA calls these type of cases “cessation” cases.
HOW DOES SSA TAKE AWAY YOUR DISABILITY BENEFITS?
CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW
The SSA takes away your benefits by starting a “continuing disability review.” This is a review of your medical records to see if your medical condition has improved.
The SSA is increasing the number of continuing disability reviews it performs under the guise that it will save the government money. A continuing disability review (CDR) means that the SSA reviews your case. They review it to see if medical improvement has occurred. If it has, they will find that you no longer have a disability and your benefits will cease. If they decide to cease your benefits, you will receive a letter in the mail stating when your benefits will end.
The SSA’s new policy of performing more CDR’s began with Congress. Their recent attempts to take away or cease your benefits are similar to those in the 1980’s.
The last time the SSA terminated SSD benefits was during the Reagan Administration. Between March 1981 and 1984, the SSA ceased the benefits of almost 500,000 Americans. This included thousands of people with mental illness. Review issues about the solvency of the Social Security disability trust fund program.
Twenty-nine states refused to follow the SSA’s instructions for termination of benefits. At the time, federal courts were clogged with appeals. According to an article in the NOSSCR Social Security Forum, 200 federal courts threatened the government with contempt of court for refusing to pay benefits when ordered. The Reagan Administration told Congress they saved $2.4 billion from 1981 to 1985. However, the 1980 conference report estimated savings from 1982 to 1985 of $218 million, with a net loss at the beginning due to increased administrative resources. As you can see, the SSA can take away benefits.
THE MEDICAL IMPROVEMENT STANDARD
To determine medical improvement, the SSA uses outlines their certain rules and procedures.
There is a requirement that allows the SSA to review whether you qualify for benefits. They review your case to see if there has been medical improvement. The improvement needs to show that you can return to work.
If your condition has not medically improved, then your benefits will continue. Even where medical improvement occurs, in most cases the SSA must also show that you are currently able to engage in substantial gainful activity. They have to prove medical improvement before they can find that you are no longer disabled.
Medical improvement is a decrease in the medical symptoms of your condition. They look at what symptoms were present at the time of the most recent favorable medical decision in your case. In order to find medical improvement, the SSA must show there has been a decrease in your symptoms. The SSA will look at improvement in the symptoms, signs, and test findings in your medical records.
MEDICAL IMPROVEMENT RELATED TO THE ABILITY TO WORK
Here is an example the SSA uses which shows how why they would take away benefits due to medical improvement and the ability to work.
For example, let’s say you win SSDI benefits for rheumatoid arthritis. Your lab findings were positive for this condition. Your doctor reported swollen and tender fingers and wrists. The medical records show your complaints of joint pain.
However, current medical evidence shows that while lab tests are still positive for rheumatoid arthritis, your condition has improved. For example, the record states your fingers and wrists are no longer in pain. Your medication is working.
Therefore, medical improvement has occurred because there has been a decrease in the signs and symptoms as reported by your doctor. Although your illness is subject to temporary remission and exacerbations, the improvement has been long enough to permit a finding of medical improvement. The SSA would then find your medical improvement is related to your ability to work.
MEDICAL IMPROVEMENT NOT RELATED TO YOUR ABILITY TO WORK
Medical improvement is not related to your ability to work if there has been a decrease in your medical symptoms, but no increase in your functional capacity to do basic work activities. If there has been any medical improvement in your condition, but it is not related to your ability to do work, then your benefits will continue.
For example, let’s say you are 65 inches tall and weigh 246 pounds when you win benefits. Your medical condition is venous insufficiency and swollen legs. You have not been able to work, because you can’t sit for 6 hours and you can only stand or walk occasionally. At the time of your continuing disability review, you had a vein operation that helped the edema in your legs.
Now you weigh 220 pounds and have leg edema. Like before, you are still able to sit for 6 hours at a time and stand or walk for short periods. You also report less pain while walking. Medical improvement occurs when there is a decrease in the symptoms of the condition. For example, improvement is weight loss and less edema.
This medical improvement is not related to your ability to work, however, because your functional capacity to do basic work activities is not better. Nevertheless, the SSA can still take away your benefits because they can say there has been improvement. If there is improvement, then your benefits end. Learn how SSD benefits can end. It is up to you to prove that you still cannot work.
IF SSA TAKES AWAY YOUR BENEFITS, THEN WE CAN HELP
No matter the savings, it is unconscionable to “save” money by taking away the benefits of individuals who need them most. If your case comes under review with the CDR program, then the SSA must follow specific rules. They must find medical improvement in order to take away your benefits.
We don’t always accept cessation cases. The reason we don’t always accept them is because people elect to continue their benefits during SSA’s review of the case. If you do this, there is no back benefit from which we can receive an attorney fee.
Additionally, if you lose your case and the SSA decides you do not qualify for benefits, then you have to pay the money back. This results in an overpayment. If you want us to represent you in a cessation case, then you must elect to not receive benefits during the review process.
This is very difficult for people to do. However, this is the only option available for most people to pay attorney fee. Most people are living from monthly payment to monthly payment. Similarly, they do not have savings. If you elect to receive benefits during the review of your case, then you are also choosing to pay it back to the SSA if their decision goes against you. Trust us. You do not want an overpayment. If your case comes under review, then elect to not receive benefits during the review process.
HOW OUR SSD ATTORNEYS HELP YOU PREPARE FOR COURT
If the SSA decides to review your case, then our attorneys and staff help you collect your medical records. Medical records are crucial to your review. Learn more here about the importance of medical records. Hopefully, the medical records will show that your severe medical condition prevents you from working.
If the SSA decides to cease your benefits, then you can have a hearing in front of a judge. Prior to your court hearing, we will meet with you to explain the questions the judge will ask. Also, we will also try to prepare you to answer those questions. Obviously, you will be answering questions about your symptoms and why you can’t work.
Additionally, you will need to be able to talk about your ability to lift, sit, stand, and walk, throughout an eight hour work day. This is your residual functional capacity. Likewise, it is important for the judge to know if you are having fatigue or mental issues that make it difficult for you to get along with other workers and your boss.
WHAT WE DO TO HELP YOU WIN SSD BENEFITS
You do not need to try to win SSD benefits by yourself. Also, you do not need to go through an SSA review by yourself. We can help file your SSD application. Also, we can help you appeal every SSA denial. That way, you can focus on your health. For example, our attorneys and staff can:
- Send you the paperwork you need to become our client
- Help you file your application for SSDI and SSI benefits
- Inform the SSA they should pay your benefits under the Compassionate Allowance Rules
- Request an appeal if you receive an initial denial
- Help you confirm your attendance at the SSA doctor exam
- Request a Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge
- Prepare you to be a good witness at your SSA hearing
- Represent you at your hearing and question the expert witnesses
- Read about job expert testimony
- Learn about medical expert testimony
- Request review of an SSA decision with the Appeals Council
- Request review of an Appeals Council denial in Federal Court
If you file your application for benefits online at Social Security’s website, then you have 6 months to complete it. Once you submit your application online, the SSA sends you an application summary in the mail. You must sign the summary and mail it back. Send it in quickly.
Additionally, once you receive an SSA denial, you have 60 days to file an appeal. This includes any letter sent to you that ends your benefits. You must also meet the time limit set by the SSA. If you do not meet the time limit, then you will lose your right to appeal.
THE LAWYERS AND STAFF AT OUR LAW FIRM
You are seeking a lawyer to represent you in SSA’s review or your SSD case. If the SSA takes away your benefits, then you need an attorney. You also need an attorney you can trust. If you want to learn more about the lawyers and staff at our firm, then read our About Us page. There you will find information about Andria Summers. She can help you with your Medicare advantage plan. Likewise, she has also won thousands of SSD and SSI cases.
Dianna Cannon has over 30 years of legal experience winning SSD and SSI cases for her clients. Ms. Cannon also has licenses in a number of states. For example, she has law licenses in California, Utah, Nevada, and Washington State. Additionally, Brett Bunkall has experience helping people obtain their SSI and SSD benefits. He has won thousands of SSDI and SSI hearings.
All of our lawyers are Social Security experts. You can trust us to answer your questions. Especially, if the SSA tries to take away your benefits. Remember, even if you do not hire an attorney, you should still appeal SSA’s cessation decision. SSA can be wrong. Always file a timely appeal to any decision from the SSA.
If you need advice, then we can help. Please call our office. We offer a free review of your case. Even if we can’t represent you, we will still answer your questions. Cannon Disability Law can help you keep your SSDI and SSI benefits.
