Generally, CDI units investigate suspected fraud before the agency awards benefits, and support the Continuing Disability Review and redetermination processes when fraud may be involved. CDI investigations typically begin with a report of suspected fraud from SSA, State DDS, law enforcement, or the public.
The SecurityStat process
Process initial disability claims within approximately 7 months (215 days) by the end of fiscal year 2025. On average, field offices should take a combined total of 19 days to do two things: first, to check the non-medical requirements, and then, after the DDS review, to make a decision.
During this review, we will determine if your current medical condition(s) meets the disability requirements as an adult. When we initiate the medical redetermination, we will use the adult criteria to determine if you are eligible for disability benefits.
However, it's crucial to realize that the SSA can and does investigate social media profiles as part of its review process for disability claims. They typically focus on finding any potential inconsistencies between what you've documented in your application and what your social media activity displays.
Does Social Security Disability Do Surveillance? Yes, the Social Security Administration conducts surveillance to investigate potential fraud or to decide if a person is still disabled under their definition of disability. SSA surveillance activities include: Monitoring the activities of disability recipients.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not routinely check your bank account for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility. However, they do have the authority to request financial information at any time if they suspect that your financial situation has changed.
If the medical evidence you provide isn't up to date then an exam may be requested. Every three years that you are on disability, a disability review will be conducted by Social Security, but the time frame may change depending on your condition and when improvements are expected to be made.
Sometimes, the employees there need more information before they can decide if you have a disability under Social Security law. If so, they ask you to have a special exam or medical test that we'll pay for. We'll also pay for certain related travel expenses.
If red flags have been raised about your disability, Social Security may hire a private investigator to “catch” you performing activities you have previously stated you can not because of your disability.
If you qualify for SSDI and SSI, there's no set back pay maximum for either. Essentially, you can estimate your potential back pay by multiplying your average monthly benefit amount by the number of months you are eligible to receive.
For work history, you will be asked to describe job duties on your last job and on all significant jobs you've had during the past fifteen years. The judge may want to know how much weight you had to lift on each job and about how much time during the workday that you spent sitting, standing and walking on each job.
Overall, however, the most approved disability for Social Security is disabilities involving the musculoskeletal system and/or connective tissues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such conditions include arthritis, back pain, and lupus.
Sign in to your account, scroll down to the “Your Benefit Application” section and select “View Details” to see your application status. Don't have a my Social Security Account?
If you want to appeal the initial determination in that notice, you must request an appeal in writing within 60 days of the date you receive your notice. That notice will tell you how to appeal. The notice will also tell you if you are entitled to continued benefits.
To get SSI, your countable resources must not be worth more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. We call this the resource limit. Countable resources are the things you own that count toward the resource limit. Many things you own do not count.
Benefit suspensions occur when a beneficiary is no longer eligible for SSI benefits. For example, the person has amassed over $2,000 in resources, their work earnings exceed the break-even point (BEP)*, they are hospitalized for longer than 30 days, or they become incarcerated.
Some red flags on the Social Security disability update report include: Checking the box that states your doctor told you that you can work. Checking the box that says your health is better now than when you were approved for benefits.
Generally, it takes about three to five months to get a decision. However, the exact time depends on how long it takes to get your medical records and any other evidence needed to make a decision. How does Social Security make the decision? We send your application to a state agency that makes disability decisions.
Refrain from voicing personal opinions about your condition, treatment, or the disability determination process during the exam. Stick to factual information about your symptoms and medical history. Offering opinions can detract from the objective evaluation required for your claim.
Generally, the more countable income you have, the less your SSI benefit will be. If your countable income is over the allowable limit, you cannot receive SSI benefits.
You can use the money you get from Social Security to pay for whatever you need—including paying for your utilities and rent. SSI doesn't have limits on how much you can spend for rent. Find out if you qualify for SSDI benefits. Pre-qualify in 60 seconds for up to $4,018 per month and 12 months back pay.
If improvement is possible, but can't be predicted, we'll review your case about every three years. If improvement is not expected, we'll review your case every seven years. Your initial award notice will tell you when you can expect your first medical review.