Are Social Security disability benefits forever?
Many people wonder what will happen after they are approved for Social Security disability benefits?
Will my benefits be stopped?
Will I continue to get Social Security disability benefits for the rest of my life?
Except for closed period cases, Social Security disability benefits normally can continue for an indefinite period of time. An individual may be able to receive benefit for the rest of his or her life.
Of course, this assumes that the impairments continue to be disabling (and any other non-medical requirements continue to be met).
Here is the catch:
The Social Security disability hearing decision says my case will be reviewed in 12 months
In some disability decisions, the judge ask Social Security to review the case, sometimes as short as six months, sometimes the judge asks for a review in a couple of years.
I thought you said that most Social Security disability cases were for “open” disability — where there is no foreseeable end to the disability.
Compared to a “closed period of disability” case, that is true. In a closed period case, either you, or the judge, picks a date when your disability ended, and it is always a date in the past.
Here, …
What is a “closed period of disability” in a Social Security case
What happens to your Social Security case if your condition improves and you can go back to work? If your disability meets the “durational requirement,” you may still qualify for a closed period of disability and still be entitled to Social Security disability benefits.
Most claims for Social Security disability benefits ask for an “open” period of disability: you are disabled now and for the foreseeable future.
A closed period of disability has a definite beginning and ending date for your disability, and has to last at least 12 months. In a …
The BIG risk in appealing a “Partly Favorable” Social Security hearing decision
You finally got the decision on your Social Security case and it says… “Partly Favorable.”
This does not mean that you are “partly disabled.” Usually, it means one of the following:
The Judge found you disabled, but not as far back as you wanted; or
The Judge is approved a “closed period” of disability: that you were disabled from one date through another date. For example: the Judge might find that you were disabled from May 1, 2005 through December 31, 2007.
If you are ok with the partly favorable decision, give yourself a pat on the back for winning your Social Security case.
If, however, the partly favorable decision just makes you angry and you are thinking of appealing, please keep the following in mind:
