When a Social Security Disability applicant is awarded benefits, the Social Security Administration periodically reviews the medical condition of the beneficiary to determine whether the person is still disabled. If the condition of the beneficiary remains or has not improved, the person will continue to receive disability benefits.

To review the medical condition of a beneficiary, the Social Security Administration will collect information about the beneficiary. The type of information that will be collected by the Social Security Administration includes medical records from the beneficiary's doctors, hospitals and other medical service providers. The information will help the Administration decide how the beneficiary's condition limits his or her activities. During the information collection process, the Administration may ask the beneficiary to attend a special examination, which will be paid by Social Security.

After information on the beneficiary has been collected, the Social Security Administration will review the beneficiary's case. The Administration will review the state of the beneficiary's medical condition when the case was previously reviewed and compare it to the current state of the condition. New health problems will also be considered during the review process.

The Administration will make a decision about whether the beneficiary's medical condition has improved or not. If the condition has improved, the Administration will then determine whether the condition has improved to the point that allows the beneficiary to work.

If the Social Security Administration determines that the beneficiary's condition has improved to the extent the beneficiary can work, disability benefits will cease. If the beneficiary disagrees with the Administration's decision, the beneficiary can appeal the decision.

Source: ssa.gov, "How we decide if you are still disabled," Jan. 2005