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How Long Can I Receive Social Security Disability?

Most people need to work to support themselves and their families. If a disability prevents you from earning an income, it can cause serious financial distress. Social Security disability benefits, both in the form of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) exist to provide a financial lifeline to those in need.

This raises an important question: How long do Social Security disability benefits last? The short answer is that these benefits will last until you are no longer disabled or until you reach your ordinary age of retirement. In this blog post, Harold W. Conick, our social security disability lawyer provides an overview of the key things to know about the duration of SSDI/SSI benefits.

The Duration of Social Security Disability Explained

Many private disability insurance policies have a maximum duration for benefits. An applicant’s long-term disability benefits may be capped at ten years, five years, or even as two years.

Social Security disability insurance is different. The duration of benefits is not capped in the same way as they are in many private disability insurance policies. That being said, it would also be a mistake to assume that SSDI/SSI benefits last forever once you get approved. Instead, benefits will last until you are no longer eligible for coverage. Here are the three most common reasons why Social Security benefits will be cut off:

  1. Medical Condition (No Longer Disabled): Social Security disability benefits are reviewed on a regular basis. You will hear these types of reviews referred to as Continuing Disability Reviews. Depending on your medical diagnosis, your file will likely be reviewed once every 18 months, once after two years, or once every seven years. If the agency determines that you are no longer disabled, then benefits can be cut off.
  2. Return to Work (Income): If you return to work on your own violation, then the SSA will cut off your Social Security disability benefits. You must satisfy income requirements to remain eligible. A return to work is likely to result in the termination of your benefits. Notably, it is possible to go back to work on a trial basis thereby re-qualifying for benefits quickly if your disability re-emerges.
  3. Retirement Age: Finally, SSDI and SSI benefits are cut off once a person reaches their ordinary age of retirement. At this point, Social Security will change your benefits from disability benefits to retirement benefits. You may not see any change in the amount of money you are receiving each month when disability benefits become retirement benefits.

Ultimately, the duration of your Social Security disability benefits will depend on a wide range of different factors, including your current age and your medical condition. If you believe that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is trying to terminate your benefits early in error either on medical grounds or financial grounds, an experienced Illinois Social Security attorney can help.

Get Help From Our Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, Northwest Indiana, and Southern Wisconsin Social Security Disability Attorney

At Harold W. Conick & Associates Ltd., our Social Security disability attorney is driven by a passion for client service. We are here to get working on your behalf when your disability keeps you off the job. Contact our firm now for a free, completely private assessment of your case. We provide SSDI and SSI representation in the greater Chicago metropolitan area as well as northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin area.