How To Pass A Continuing Disability Review For Mental Disorders

Getting approved for Social Security disability benefits is a significant accomplishment. However, maintaining these benefits can be an ongoing process, especially if the Social Security Administration (SSA) believes your condition could improve.

Not all disability benefits last forever. The SSA schedules a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to assess whether your condition still qualifies as disabling. For many, this happens every three years. However, if your condition is considered unlikely to improve, you might be reviewed just once every five to seven years.

The SSA will look at two critical factors during this process:

• Medical improvement: Have your symptoms improved?
• Work capacity: Can you perform substantial gainful activity (SGA)?

Mental disorders can vary significantly in severity and persistence. Some mental health conditions are labeled as “Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE)” and are reviewed less often. Others, considered treatable, might prompt more frequent reviews, with benefits ceasing if the SSA determines you’re capable of substantial work.

While most people pass their CDR, it’s essential to be prepared. This guide will outline exactly what you need to know and do to successfully pass a CDR for mental disorders.

How the SSA Conducts Disability Reviews for Mental Disorders

The SSA treats mental and physical conditions equally during a CDR, meaning the criteria for evaluation are the same. As long as your condition still prevents you from working and earning the same as before, your benefits should continue.

How the Review Works

When your CDR is due, the SSA will send you a notice and a form to complete. There are two types of forms:

1. Short form (Disability Update Report)
   This is for those whose condition is not expected to improve significantly.
2. Long form (Continuing Disability Review Report)
   This is for individuals whose condition could improve, labeled as “Medical Improvement Expected (MDE).”

If you don’t return the completed form within the given time frame, your benefits may stop. Once the form is submitted, the SSA will use your answers to decide if further evaluation is needed. This might involve a review of your medical records, a consultation with a doctor, or even an in-person examination.

If your condition is permanent or if you’ve been on disability benefits for over two years, you may not face a detailed review. Beneficiaries who are part of the SSA’s Ticket to Work Program (a program encouraging those with disabilities to test returning to work) are also less likely to be subjected to frequent reviews.

Tips to Pass the Medical Review

Because mental health conditions often lack physical symptoms, passing the SSA’s medical review requires careful documentation and preparation. Here are steps you can take to strengthen your chances:

1. Keep Comprehensive Medical Records

The SSA relies heavily on your medical records to evaluate your condition. Make sure you keep:

• A record of all your therapy sessions and treatments
• Detailed psychological test results
• Reports from doctors, therapists, or any mental health professionals you’ve seen

These documents create a clear picture of your ongoing challenges and make your case more robust.

2. Be Honest About Your Symptoms

Talking openly about mental health can be challenging, but honesty is key. The SSA depends on the professional opinions of therapists and doctors, and these professionals can only document your struggles accurately if you’re upfront about your symptoms.

For example, if you experience anxiety so severe that it impacts your ability to leave your home, share this with your healthcare provider. The more detailed and transparent you are, the better your documentation will support your case.

3. Follow Your Prescribed Treatment Plan

The SSA checks whether you’re taking steps to manage your condition. If you’re not following your treatment plan, the SSA might assume you’re not trying to improve and may question your eligibility for continued benefits.

Stay consistent with your prescribed therapies, medications, or other treatments. If there’s a valid reason you can’t follow a treatment (e.g., side effects or financial challenges), discuss it with your doctor and document the issue.

What About the Work Review?

The SSA will also examine whether you’re working or earning beyond a specific monthly income limit. For 2025, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit is $1,470 per month for non-blind individuals. Earning above this amount could risk your benefits.

To stay compliant:

• Notify the SSA of any changes to your employment status or income.
• Consider participating in the Ticket to Work Program, which allows you to “test out” working while temporarily keeping your disability benefits.

Understanding the SSA Blue Book

The SSA uses the Blue Book as a guide for evaluating disabilities. This book lists the criteria for different medical conditions considered eligible for disability benefits. For mental disorders, the listings are categorized separately for adults and children.

Some examples of mental disorders in the SSA Blue Book include:

• Adult Listings: Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, neurocognitive disorders, and psychotic disorders.
• Childhood Listings: Autism spectrum disorder, developmental coordination disorder, and separation anxiety disorder.

Meeting one of these listings isn’t the only way to qualify. If you don’t meet the listed criteria, the SSA will evaluate your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) to determine if your condition still prevents you from working.