Jane Burigsay
Courtesy: Social Security Administration
By law, Social Security is required to review, from time to time, the current medical condition of all people receiving disability benefits to make sure they continue to have a qualifying disability. Generally speaking, if a person’s health has not improved, or if their disability still keeps them from working, they will continue to receive their benefits.
These continuing disability reviews help us ensure that only eligible people receive disability benefits. It supports the integrity of the Social Security system while delivering fair services to wounded warriors, chronically ill children and adults, and other people with disabilities.
To help us make our decision, Social Security first gathers new information about an individual’s medical condition. We will ask their doctors, hospitals and other medical sources for their medical records. We’ll ask them how their medical condition limits their activities, what their medical tests show and what medical treatments they have been given. If we need more information, we’ll ask them to get a special examination or test, for which we will pay.
If we decide their disability benefits will stop, and they disagree, they can appeal our decision. That means they can ask us to look at their case again. When they get a letter telling them about our decision, the letter will tell them how to appeal the decision.
You can read more about how we decide if you still have a qualifying disability at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10053.pdf.
People can check the status of their disability application with a personal my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. This secure account gives people access to many tools that can save them time.
Find out how Social Security is securing today and tomorrow at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Jane Burigsay is Social Security’s public affairs specialist in Hawai‘i.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question: I know that Social Security’s full retirement age is gradually rising to 67. But does this mean the “early” retirement age will also go up by two years, from age 62 to 64?
Answer: No. While it is true that under current law the full retirement age is gradually rising from 65 to 67, the “early” retirement age remains at 62. Keep in mind, however, that taking early retirement reduces your benefit amount. For more information about Social Security benefits, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/retire.
Question: I want to estimate my retirement benefit at several different ages. Is there a way to do that?
Answer: Use our Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator to get an instant, personalized retirement benefit estimate based on current law and your earnings record. The Retirement Estimator, which is also available in Spanish, lets you create additional “what if” retirement scenarios based on different income levels and “stop work” ages.
