The SSA periodically reviews whether you’re still disabled. Here’s what a CDR is, what triggers it, and how to keep your benefits.
What a continuing disability review is
A Continuing Disability Review is the SSA’s periodic check that you still meet its disability standard. Most people keep their benefits — the bar to stop them is whether your condition has medically improved enough to work.
How often they happen
Review frequency depends on whether improvement is expected: every 6–18 months, every 3 years, or every 7 years. You’ll get a notice and either a short form or a longer review.
Denied or unsure where to start? A free case review takes minutes and there’s no fee unless we win.
Request your free case review →How to keep your benefits
Keep seeing your doctors and keep records current. Continued, documented treatment is the clearest evidence that your condition persists. Respond to every SSA notice on time.
If benefits are stopped
You have appeal rights, and you can request that benefits continue during the appeal. Don’t let a cessation notice go unanswered.
When to get help
If your CDR results in a proposed cessation, that’s the moment to get representation — the appeal process mirrors the original claim, and the same advocacy that wins cases applies here.
Talk to a Tennessee disability lawyer — free
No fee unless we win. We respond within 2 business hours.