Finding out CDR date

[NYnick]

Hi everyone,

Is there a way to find out when your CDR will be? I find I'm in a
constant state of anxiety about this, and I have read that most reviews
are delayed and that most people are not cut off SSDI. I'd like to ask
someone about when the review date will be, but I figure asking social
security would just be asking for a review.

I'm on SSDI for severe depression and anxiety, but now have serious
heart problems as well. I'm 52, and doubt I'll ever be able to do much
work again, although I really would like to. I'd have a very hard time
surviving without SSDI and Medicare -- well I wouldn't survive I don't
think. I know I'm probably worrying about nothing, but find I can't
help worrying.

Also, my calendar review is set on a 3 year basis. Does that mean 3
years from when I applied, 3 years from when I last worked, or 3 years
from when I got approval for SSDI?

Thanks in advance.
Nick

[COVA BPAO Project]

Post by NYnick
Hi everyone,
Is there a way to find out when your CDR will be? I find I'm in a
constant state of anxiety about this, and I have read that most reviews
are delayed and that most people are not cut off SSDI. I'd like to ask
someone about when the review date will be, but I figure asking social
security would just be asking for a review.
I'm on SSDI for severe depression and anxiety, but now have serious
heart problems as well. I'm 52, and doubt I'll ever be able to do much
work again, although I really would like to. I'd have a very hard time
surviving without SSDI and Medicare -- well I wouldn't survive I don't
think. I know I'm probably worrying about nothing, but find I can't
help worrying.
Also, my calendar review is set on a 3 year basis. Does that mean 3
years from when I applied, 3 years from when I last worked, or 3 years
from when I got approval for SSDI?
Thanks in advance.
Nick

I'm assuming that you just recently began to receive SSDI benefits. In
that case, your review date will probably be some three years for your
date of entitlement.

Here's a link to the Program Operation Manual section which discusses
this item (your situation would probably fall into the Medical
Improvement Possible {MIP} category):

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0428001020!opendocument


Contemplating a CDR can be a stressful event for many individuals but in
the VAST majority of cases benefits continue without change.

Remember that SSA has a much bigger burden of proof to deny benefits
now than when you were in the initial application process. My
understanding is that less than three percent (3%) of individuals going
through the process end up having a full medical review. This makes
sense since processing full medical CDRs for a significant number of
beneficiaries/recipients would be extremely time-consuming and
prohibitively expensive.

In no case would you be summarily terminated and you have full appeal
rights.

****************************

You have indicated that (1) you'd like to have a more exact review date,
(2) you would like to work at some level if possible, but (3) you are
reluctant to contact SSA directly.


There are federally-funded Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach
(BPAO) Projects in every state specializing in assisting individuals to
integrate all of their benefits programs (SSDI, SSI, Survivor's,
Medicare, Medicaid,Food Stamps, Housing & Utility Programs, ADC, VA,
etc.) with current or future community or self-employment. This service
is FREE, confidential, and independent of SSA.


You can find your local BPAO agency here:

http://www.ssa.gov/work/ServiceProviders/BPAODirectory.html

A telephone or personal appointment with a trained BPAO benefits
specialist (knowledgeable concerning national,state, & local benefits
programs)can help you sort through all of the options (and possible
impacts on other benefit programs.) Again, this service is free.

Your benefits specialist, as a part of your benefits analysis, can
request a Benefit s Query (BPQY) report which lists (among many other
items) your next scheduled review date. This is a standard request SSA
offices receive all the time (as a BPAO benefits specialist I probably
filed some 300-400 such requests last year alone) and will not trigger
any action by SSA.

I hope this information has been of help to you.

John Hartman
COVA/BPAO Project
Southern Ohio

[Jack]

Post by NYnick
Also, my calendar review is set on a 3 year basis. Does that mean 3
years from when I applied, 3 years from when I last worked, or 3 years
from when I got approval for SSDI?

Three years from the month of the decision. But, as you know, many
reexams are delayed because of initial workloads.

Jack
_______

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0426525035!opendocument

DI 26525.035 The MIP Diary

(...)

2. Diary Date
Enter a two-digit code for month, day, and year for 36 months in the
future, counting the month of adjudication. Use “01” for the day
(e.g., if the month of this decision is 3/02, diary for 02/01/05).

(...)

[Rick]

Post by NYnick
Hi everyone,
Is there a way to find out when your CDR will be? I find I'm in a
constant state of anxiety about this, and I have read that most reviews
are delayed and that most people are not cut off SSDI. I'd like to ask
someone about when the review date will be, but I figure asking social
security would just be asking for a review.
I'm on SSDI for severe depression and anxiety, but now have serious
heart problems as well. I'm 52, and doubt I'll ever be able to do much
work again, although I really would like to. I'd have a very hard time
surviving without SSDI and Medicare -- well I wouldn't survive I don't
think. I know I'm probably worrying about nothing, but find I can't
help worrying.
Also, my calendar review is set on a 3 year basis. Does that mean 3
years from when I applied, 3 years from when I last worked, or 3 years
from when I got approval for SSDI?
Thanks in advance.
Nick

There's no practical way to know Nick. Local caseloads vary from State
to State and from office to office within the State. And they are all
overworked and understaffed. Asking for a specific date, month - hell
even a year at this point - serves no purpose. I don't believe there is
anything in the local systems that can even guess at possible date for
an individual CDR.

You can't be cut off from benefits for the SSA's failure to do their job
in a timely manner. They will do the CDR when they are ready. Fretting
about when that might be won't help. Asking the SSA to nail down when it
will be is even worse.

As it is my last CDR was in June 1998. As far as I understand the
system, the SSA has gone beyond *their* allotted maximum time frame in
which they are obliged to do a CDR - my last CDR was over 7 years ago.
My notices state I'm an MIE - 3 year CDR track. It just isn't happening.
And the benefits keep coming.

So don't fret about it. Keep your address and phone info current with
the SSA. And put it out of your mind until they (finally) contact you.

Rick

[Bob]

"Rick" <***@rcn.com> wrote
SNIP!!!!

Post by Rick
As it is my last CDR was in June 1998. As far as I understand the
system, the SSA has gone beyond *their* allotted maximum time frame in
which they are obliged to do a CDR - my last CDR was over 7 years ago.
My notices state I'm an MIE - 3 year CDR track. It just isn't happening.
And the benefits keep coming.

Anyone know if Bipolar Disorder is a 3,5,or 7 year CDR?
TIA,
Bob

--
"Meet me, Jesus, meet me!
Meet me Jesus, in the middle of the air,
and if my wings should fail below,
please meet me with another pair."
-Led Zeppelin- "In My Time of Dying"

Post by Rick
So don't fret about it. Keep your address and phone info current with
the SSA. And put it out of your mind until they (finally) contact you.
Rick

[Jack]

Post by Bob
Anyone know if Bipolar Disorder is a 3,5,or 7 year CDR?
TIA,
Bob

In actual practice, there is no 5-year diary. They are 30 months (but
usually 6-18); 3 years; and 7 years.

With affective disorders, it depends primarily on the level of
severity in the individual case. However, if you are over age 46 and
your affective disorder has been at a disabling level of severity for
at least 10 years, the diary your reexam for 7 years.

See:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0426525045!opendocument


Jack

[Rick]

Post by Jack

Post by Bob
Anyone know if Bipolar Disorder is a 3,5,or 7 year CDR?
TIA,
Bob

In actual practice, there is no 5-year diary. They are 30 months (but
usually 6-18); 3 years; and 7 years.
With affective disorders, it depends primarily on the level of
severity in the individual case. However, if you are over age 46 and
your affective disorder has been at a disabling level of severity for
at least 10 years, the diary your reexam for 7 years.
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0426525045!opendocument
Jack

Jack

Since we're on the topic of CDR's, do you have any comment about my
specific situation - a review sliding beyond a seven year period? I'm a
good 20 years before retirement age, so that has nothing to do with it.

I'm not worried about it. Just curious about what this may mean if the
SSA is sliding so badly that they can't even keep up with the mandatory
seven year CDR's. Are there any implications for either local review
offices, or the entire system, if this issue starts showing up as
commonplace? Things like penalties imposed on local offices? How bad
will it have to get in order for funding to be put in place for new
hires?

Or is my individual CDR going beyond seven years just a fluke?

Rick

[Jack]

Post by Rick
Since we're on the topic of CDR's, do you have any comment about my
specific situation - a review sliding beyond a seven year period? I'm a
good 20 years before retirement age, so that has nothing to do with it.
I'm not worried about it. Just curious about what this may mean if the
SSA is sliding so badly that they can't even keep up with the mandatory
seven year CDR's. Are there any implications for either local review
offices, or the entire system, if this issue starts showing up as
commonplace? Things like penalties imposed on local offices? How bad
will it have to get in order for funding to be put in place for new
hires?
Or is my individual CDR going beyond seven years just a fluke?
Rick

Rick,
If I'm reading this table correctly:

http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2004/6f.html#table6.f2

94,000 DI worker beneficiaries received medical cessations in 2003,
indicating that CDRs are being done.

Sec. 221 of the Act gives the agy. great leeway in deferring CDRs but
I don't think that's the issue with your personal situation.

If you haven't received even a CDR mailer, I suspect that your case
simply fell through the cracks due to some sort of systems glitch.
Maybe some computer nerd will remedy the situation, but, until that
happens, as you said, it ain't your worry. If you haven't returned to
work, you have no obligation to contact them in this regard.


Jack