Your benefits don't automatically renew—you have to request an extension

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) don't run out on a fixed date the way a driver's license does. Instead, Social Security periodically reviews whether you still meet the medical requirements for benefits. If you receive a notice that your benefits will end, you can request a continuation review—a process where Social Security re-examines your medical condition to decide whether you should keep receiving payments.

The key is acting before your benefits actually stop. If you wait until after they end, you'll have a harder time getting them restored, and you may lose months of payments in the meantime.

Key Takeaways

  • Social Security sends you a notice before your benefits end, usually giving you time to request a continuation review.
  • A continuation review means Social Security will look at your current medical records to decide if you still cannot work.
  • You must request the review before your benefits stop, or you risk losing payments while the decision is being made.
  • If your condition has improved enough that you can work, your benefits may end—but you may be may have access to to a work incentive period that lets you test working without losing coverage when ready.
  • If Social Security denies your continuation, you can appeal the decision within 60 days of receiving the denial notice.

When Social Security reviews your benefits

Social Security conducts reviews on different schedules depending on how likely your condition is to improve. If you have a condition that is not expected to improve—such as blindness or severe arthritis—your review may happen only once every seven years. If your condition could improve with treatment or time, your review may happen every one to three years.

You will receive a notice in the mail before your review happens. The notice will tell you the date your benefits will end if you do not respond. Read this notice carefully and note the important date—it is usually 60 to 90 days away.

Do not ignore the notice. If you miss the important date and your benefits stop, you will have to go through a longer appeals process to get them restored, and you may not receive back pay for the months you were without benefits.

How to request a continuation review

To request that Social Security continue reviewing your case, you need to contact them before the important date on your notice. You have three main ways to do this:

  • Call Social Security directly. The main number is 1-800-772-1213. Have your Social Security number and the notice letter in front of you. Tell them you want to request a continuation review.
  • Visit your local Social Security office in person. Bring the notice letter and your ID. You can find your nearest office at ssa.gov/locator.
  • Use your my Social Security account online. If you have created an account at ssa.gov, you may be able to request a review through the website, though this option is not yet available in all states.

When you request the review, Social Security will ask you to submit medical records from the past 12 months. This means records from your doctors, hospitals, therapists, or any other medical providers who have treated you. The sooner you gather these records and send them in, the sooner Social Security can make a decision.

What happens during the continuation review

During a continuation review, a Social Security medical examiner will look at your current medical records to decide whether your condition still prevents you from working. They are not asking whether you have improved completely—they are asking whether you can do any kind of work, even part-time or lower-paying work.

You do not usually have to attend an in-person exam for a continuation review. Social Security will make the decision based on the medical records you submit. However, if they need more information, they may ask you to see a doctor they choose and pay for the exam.

The review usually takes 30 to 60 days, though it can take longer if Social Security needs additional medical records. During this time, your benefits will continue. You will receive a decision letter in the mail telling you whether your benefits will continue or end.

If your condition has improved and you want to work

If Social Security determines that your condition has improved enough that you could work, your benefits will end. However, you may be may have access to to a trial work period or other work incentives that let you test working without when ready losing all your benefits and medical coverage.

A trial work period lasts nine months and allows you to earn any amount of money without affecting your SSDI benefits. After the trial work period ends, there is a nine-month extended may be able to access period during which you can still receive benefits in any month you earn less than a certain amount (this amount changes each year). This structure is designed to let you see whether you can sustain work before your benefits end permanently.

If you are on SSI rather than SSDI, the rules are different and more restrictive. SSI has a plan-to-achieve-self-support (PASS) program that lets you set aside income and resources for work-related goals. Talk to a Social Security representative about which work incentive applies to you.

What to do if your continuation is denied

If Social Security decides your benefits should end, you will receive a notice explaining their decision and telling you that you have the right to appeal. You have 60 days from the date on the notice to file an appeal.

To appeal, you can contact Social Security by phone, in person, or through your online account and ask for a reconsideration. This means a different examiner will review your case and the medical records. If you disagree with the reconsideration decision, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge, which is a more formal process where you can present evidence and testimony.

Many people find it helpful to work with a disability advocate or attorney during an appeal, especially if the case is complex. Some advocates work on a fee-sharing basis, meaning they only get paid if you win.

Gathering medical records before your review

The single most important thing you can do to protect your benefits is to gather recent medical records before Social Security asks for them. Do not wait until after you receive the continuation review notice.

Contact each doctor, hospital, therapist, or clinic you have visited in the past 12 months and request copies of your medical records. Ask specifically for records that document your condition, your symptoms, any treatments you are receiving, and any limitations on your ability to work. This usually takes two to four weeks, so start early.

Keep copies of everything for your own records. When you submit records to Social Security, send them by mail with a cover letter listing what you are sending, or ask your doctor's office to send them directly to Social Security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I miss the important date to request a continuation review?

If you miss the important date, your benefits will stop on the date listed in the notice. You can still appeal, but you will have to request a reconsideration or hearing, which takes longer. You may not receive back pay for the months your benefits were stopped. Contact Social Security when ready if you realize you missed the important date.

Can I work while my continuation review is happening?

Yes. Your benefits continue while the review is taking place, and you can work and earn money without affecting your benefits during this time. However, if you are earning substantial income, Social Security may use that as evidence that you can work, which could affect their decision.

Do I have to see a doctor for the continuation review?

Not usually. Social Security will make the decision based on medical records from your own doctors. However, if they need more information or want an independent medical exam, they will contact you and arrange it at no cost to you.

What is the difference between a continuation review and a work incentive?

A continuation review is Social Security's process for deciding whether you still meet the medical requirements for benefits. A work incentive is a program that lets you test working without when ready losing all your benefits. These are separate things—you may go through a continuation review and keep your benefits, or your benefits may end but you may be may have access to to a work incentive period.

If my benefits end, can I reapply later?

If your benefits end because your condition improved, you can reapply if your condition gets worse again. However, you will have to go through the full process process again, which takes several months. This is another reason to appeal a denial if you believe the decision was wrong.