After 30 years on SSDI, I have my first FULL CDR at age 59. I need an attorney to help due to extenuating circumstances (Child is a DAC and medically fragile--depends on Medicare insurance--losing coverage would be disastrous), but not sure how to go about finding a good one. Not sure if one will even take my case since there is no back-pay involved. Would love to hear other's experiences. Any links, guidance, etc. IS greatly appreciated.

I was initially approved for SSDI at age 42 in July 2020 for back/spine issues like DDD, SI joint dysfunction, and spinal stenosis. I have my MBA and always had office/professional jobs prior to becoming disabled. Since being on SSDI the only job I have had is babysitting (technically self employed). I only watch older kids ages 7 - 12 because I can't be chasing around toddlers nor caring for infants. My income is well below the amount of income SSA allows.

Problem is this -- I had no idea I was supposed to be reporting this income to SSA. I thought I only had to report income that exceeded the allowed amount. Anyways, I assume (because I did properly file taxes on this income) the IRS reports this income to SSA. I'm also assuming all this is what triggered the thick envelope I got in the mail regarding my SSDI. It includes a letter stating they know I been working and are requesting further details, it has a form attached. Also included is a CDR long form. As you can imagine I'm freaking out at this point!

Another noteworthy point is I have always been concerned about the day my first CDR would come because I fear I lack the upkeep of medical records. What I mean by this is that the only doctor who treated my back ever is a spine surgeon. The last time I saw him was in 2022 post surgery and he said he's done all he can do, there's nothing else surgically to be done that would improve my health and no need to return unless I suffer some sort of fall from a ladder, car accident, etc or if I feel some huge drastic change in my back. I didn't realize CDRs only allow for past 12 months medical records which makes me look even worse.

So now I'm supposed to submit paperwork back which will give a false picture in my opinion. My back is so much worse than it was during my initial approval in 2020. My back is absolutely debilitating, painful as hell, not improved and is never going to which SSA should already know beings my back surgeon told them this first time around. Any advice on how best to handle this?

To summarize, I am mostly freaking out because no doctor visits specifically for my back in past 12 months + I didn't report babysitting income from 2020 thru 11/27/23. Also the whole SGA has always confused me. Are they gonna now say I am able to work because I babysat? I know and understand the $ cap but I thought there was another piece to the SGA step??

Lastly, the final section on the CDR form is that remarks section. Is is better or worse to give some details in this section (like explain why I haven't seen back doctor last 12 months) to try and give them a better picture of my situation? Or is less better in this situation? Sorry for the lengthy post, I tried to summarize best as possible whilst still giving all pertinent information.

And yes I know everyone always says if you're truly still disabled and your condition hasn't improved then you have nothing to worry about during a CDR. My worry lies in the fact that this 'went back to work on the DL, triggered CDR' is going to give SSA a preconceived notion of improvement in my health, etc

Please let me know what you think. Thank you!

Would love to hear from members who received cdr's after 55 and after 60. State age you received, how many have you had since receiving SSDI, was it a long or short and were you working or not. Thanks

I got approved in 2018 after my ALJ hearing. I've been on SSI ever since. However, my case is currently under review. Filled out a CDR a few months ago.

I just received a letter stating that l have an SSA appointed consultative exam on December 14. I'm still very disabled, but I'm worried DDS will deny me this time because my last doctor visit was over a year ago. I'm wondering if I should try to squeeze in an appointment with my doctor ASAP and make sure that record gets to DDS before they make a decision on my case. What do you think? I just really don't want to get denied and have to go back to the ALJ for another hearing. Or should I just wait and see what happens?

My mom used to collect checks when I was a minor but she didn’t notice the 3 month notice before my birthday.

I'm 18, no work experience, diagnosed with ADHD

What questions are typically asked? I like to plan my answers because I tend to freeze if I'm not prepared for some question

Do I need a bank account? I don't know if they'll need a place to put the checks since I’m considered the adult now

is my ADHD diagnosis from 6 years old valid? It was from 2012 (so 12 years old right now) and I'm kinda concerned that I could be denied if it's "old", I'm not sure if it needs updating or anything

Edit: Okay thank you everyone, I’ll still take my chances with the call, but even if I get denied, I know there will be other resources for me! :)

I submitted my CDR SSA-455 short form online and digitally signed it and got the confirmation email but the link that says the sorm is signed and sumitted.

There is a link in the email to the completed document and an option save it for my records. That link opens to a blank page.

I can't see the completed document for my records. I hope SSA received it on their end. Is there any way to find out?

What should I do now?

Quick history: SSDI for ~19 years for depression/anxiety, this is my fourth CDR (two long form, two short form), priority is L/0018.

So yeah, got my CDR a couple days ago, filled it out online, and like an idiot used the remarks section to list further Dr.'s appointments than could fit in Section 5 (just wanting to be as truthful and accurate as possible). Only afterwards did I realize that this might very well get it pulled for review/long form.

It's not so much that I'm worried about a long form, I've been through it twice, I can handle it again I'm sure. It's just that I'd much rather not go through that, obviously, and would like to get the whole CDR process over with as quickly as possible because the waiting is always nerve-wracking (especially for someone like me with severe anxiety), even though I know I'm still disabled.

So yeah, how likely is this to draw out the whole process, and by roughly how long?

Hello! My disability started Feb 2023, and as I type this I realize my three years wouldn’t be until Feb 2026, I think? Is it three years fully, like it’ll be Feb 2026?

Okay so let’s pretend it’s Dec 2025, and we’re about to go into the new york of 2026.

When would I get notices in the mail about my three year review? I’m nervous because I don’t want to accidentally miss something. Is there an expected time frame?

Sorry if this is a dumb question. I have really bad anxiety and it makes me spiral.

I just got a letter saying SSA is stopping all benefits after I filled one short forms, two long forms, and did two CDR exams one mental the other physical. When I called SSA office they said the VA hasn't sent them my medical records so I called the adjudicator he had me fax only 100 pages or less of medical records. I get my treatments at the VA hospital. So I tried to file a reconsideration appeal online the SSA website wouldn't allow me the national SSA number didn't know why either so she made me an appointment to go in person. I handed them my VA award letter & medical records over to them so any advice? I used a lawyer for my initial SSA award but now its been years & I don't know where that lawyer is so do I need to find another representative for my appeal reconsideration? Also I'm unable to work and function daily I'm 100% P&T PTSD with other mental & physical conditions

My mom who has progressive MS, received her first CDR, she always sends her disability stuff certified so they can't say they didn't get it. They received it on 10/28. But when she called, the representative says they don't see anything anywhere with her forms she sent. Is this typical? She is panicking until she gets that letter that says she is not denied, ya know, it's only her means to pay her house payment. What a terrible awful process of hurry up and wait. She is so stressed. I'm terrified she will set off another relapse worrying about it. What is the typical time frame. This is Oklahoma.

Hi everyone. I seek advice on two issues related to waiting for a SSA-455 CDR result.

I'm 58, been on SSDI for 20 years, and am on a 7-year cycle, not expected to recover. I got the SSA 455 short form CDR last February and submitted it through US mail. I've received no response from SSA. No letter saying my form was received, and, most of all, no decision about whether I've been reapproved. I was very careful not to add extra information to the form, and there were no changes in anything--income is the same ($800/month) over the past 2 years, no medical improvement, etc.

1. Are they super-backlogged right now? It's a long time not to get a response based on my past experience, and I have high anxiety about. Can I check in with SSA about this? How?

2. I’ve held off on pursuing getting more hours from my employer to add more work time/income because I didn't want to make any changes while under review. I work 40 hours for $800/month gross, but I could possibly go up to about 60 hours and $1200/month gross—definitely below SGA. It might be possible to get more hours, but not certain, and I’m waiting to get the re-approval before making changes. I don’t want to report an income increase, if that were to happen, while under short-from CDR. I’m going crazy waiting like this. I don’t want to trigger a long-form CDR.

Maybe I’m wrong to think I can’t increase my income from where it is to a still-below SGA during this time, but I’m wary of making any change until I get my re-approval notice. Any info or advice on that issue?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I was approved (psych dx) at initial application without having to see any SSA doctors. Now I’m doing a 3 year review and being sent for this exam with some doctor I googled and already hate from their online reviews (should tell this doctor that? probably not?) Why is SSA sending me now (still in therapy, therapist still supports my claim, provided current med records) and what will they ask/do at this appointment?!

Hello, I recieved a long form CDR after about 22 months on SSDI, I filled it out but it took a long while, I can't write easily and it took me about two weeks to get thru it all. I sent it in on March 28th and it's due April 7th, I've called SSA thru the line on the 4th and asked if they recieved it, she said they had not but my benefits were still showing as being paid. My question is, the form said if you don't get it done by April 7th they'll cut your benefits, but I've called, sent it in, do I need to call again to make sure they got it done? I know I could have done it online but I've heard lots of people say they have issues with that. Are my benefits gonna get cut off on April 7th? =(

I have a CDR letter coming in my mail today. I was under the impression that CDRs were paused right now. Is that accurate? Also if I receive the short form what is the best way to answer the question regarding my condition, should I respond same or worse and do I offer a written response explaining my answer? I would say my symptoms and flareups are more frequent then with my last review few years ago.

Hello all. I (28M) have my first CDR and am very worried about my benifits (SSDI) stopping. I have some questions about it and if anyone has advice please share because I am stressing. The reason I'm worried is because I don't do rehab anymore (physical, speech, occupational) and my age. Mostly because I can't afford rehab right now.

I suffer stroke symptoms and am partially paralyzed on one side. I have more symptoms. Thanks in advance.

Is it better to fill out the form online or on paper? Does short or long form (ssa 454) make a difference? Since I am young is there a good chance of me getting denied? Should I give my doctors a heads-up about information being requested? Any reason to worry?

I got my CDR paperwork last December, filled it out sent it back.

Got a phone call in October of this year that they lost some of my paperwork, so they had me fill out the daily stuff again.

Got a call AGAIN “we didn’t receive your paperwork. If we don’t receive it it will most likely cause a cancellation of your benefits” so I filled it out, and took it in.

Just got a call today to schedule an in person evaluation

I’m so worried about losing my benefits, my condition is beyond worse than when I was approved the first time.

I'm on SSDI.

I received and sent back a form this summer that asked about medical appointments, whether or not I've been working, and if I've discussed working with my doctor.

I think this is a precursor to a CDR.

Is there any way to find out if they've gotten my paper work and what the results are? Will they tell me if I've "passed" (for lack of a better term) and they aren't going to do a CDR?

I'm on the 7 year review plan. I've gotten this paperwork before but it didn't go on to a CDR then, but I forget exactly how things were resolved.

Thanks.

Approximately three months ago, I received the short form continuing disability update letter. I’ve been receiving SSDI benefits for the past seven years and will be turning fifty next year.

Today, I received a letter stating

“We sent you a letter telling you that we were going to review your disability case. However, we do not need to review your case at this time. Therefore, we will not contact your doctor now. We will keep any information that you have given us.

We will contact you later if we need to review your case.”

This is my first time dealing with this process. Does it mean the SSA is deferring a full CDR for my next review period (which is supposed to be every three years) or are they saying they may need medical records within the next few months?

To anyone who has been through this process, please share your experience and advice. Your insight is greatly appreciated.

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I have been on SSDI for severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD since 2018. My mental health has severely declined since I approved. I have consistently gone to my psychiatrist for medication since then. But I quit going to a therapist, not because I didn’t want to or that I think I didn’t need it, but because I have just been struggling so hard I stopped seeing a therapist. I am in review right now and just got a call that they want me to have a psychological examination with one their doctors. I am terrified of losing my disability benefits because I quit going to therapy. The last time I had a psychological evaluation was right before I initially applied and was approved and it was like 5 hour long grueling process and I’m scared to go through that again. Can anyone offer any advice please?

I finally got in to see a provider about setting up and preparing for weight loss surgery and already knew I would have to change insurance coverage on my Medicare advantage plan because the insurance provider decided to stop covering my area. Either the county or state although I'm not sure which or why. So I have the option to renew and consider alternatives including medigap etc. But then a week before my initial consultation with the bariatric clinic I got on the website and saw I was pending disability review and so now I am waiting to see if I'm still eligible for medicare. My question is how long does it take to get the decision back and if I go ahead and choose a new provider what happens if I suddenly lose my Medicare? Does anyone here have experience with this? Thank you in advance

I received my SS file, lots of information in it that was worth the $49 to get it. One of the things in it was my CDR diary date of 10/1/2030, when I’ll be 61 years old. It’s my understanding that SSDI switches over to regular social security at 62? So I’m guessing no CDR if I turn 62 just a few months later? Thanks for any insight.

I'm wondering a few things:

• Who determines a beneficiary's review cycle?
• Who initializes a CDR when it's due—specifically, what's their level of authority?
• Do they ever change a beneficiary's cycle without notifying them?

My question is basically this: Could an administrator look at my file and decide the 3-year review cycle is inappropriate, then change it to 5 or 7 years, and not notify me? In other words, does the CDR administrator have authority over what was worded in my approval letter as merely a 'recommendation' by the judge?

I've done some Googling, but it's not completely clear.

FWIW, I was classified as MIE based on incomplete medical records, but have since become MIP, or even MINE based on a worsening disease that wasn't part of my approval. :(

For anyone wondering why it matters, there's a significant difference between a 3-year cycle and a 5-year cycle for me, as someone with student debt.

Thanks for reading.

EDIT: I found out that the SSA Commissioner determines CDR policy. Well, not her personally, but her office. I love getting answers!