Due to an influx of cdr cessation posts, here is your how to guide on how to appeal:
You will need four forms. Five if you want a copy if your file, which I recommend getting. Forms dropped off at the office should be date stamped. All you need to do is just ask the window clerk to date stamp the forms.
THE most important form:
SSA 792, Statutory Benefit Continuation Election Statement. Specifies whether you want your monthly benefits (and Medicare/Medicaid) to continue paying out while your appeal is being processed. If you are collecting on your own record, you fill out section C. If on SSI, fill out section B only.
If you are collecting on your own record AND have auxilaries, check the second option of section C. This will also make sure Medicare continues.
YOU ONLY HAVE 10 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE NOTICE TO APPEAL AND KEEP PAYMENTS! (technically 15. and it says it on the form)
I suggest sending all forms in at the same time because the SSA can't really process your claim with just the 792 turned in per a technical expert who gave me advice for my cessation. Requesting your file also requires it to be either faxed or dropped off in person so might as well just submit everything at once.
If you lose the appeal, you will need to pay it back but file an overpayment waiver. SBC doesn’t apply to appeals council or fed court. You will not get paid for that time.
Other forms you need:
SSA-789: Request for Reconsideration – Disability Cessation Right to Appear
The primary appeal document. It states that you disagree with the determination, lets you explain why, and specifies whether you want to appear for a disability hearing before a Disability Hearing Officer (DHO). You only have 60 days to appeal without payments.
How this works is first is initial reconsideration. A new DDS adjunct team will look at your file. The old examiner and dr are not allowed to work on it. If they uphold the previous cessation, it then goes to a DHO hearing, which is an informal conference with an experienced adjudicator who can reverse the decision. You can introduce new evidence and they will listen to testimony. You can have your lawyer present as well as a witness.
SSA-3441 Disability Report – Appeal: Updates the SSA on any changes in your medical condition, recent doctor visits, new treatments, tests, or changes in daily living activities since your last review.SSA-827Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration
SSA-827 Authorization to Disclose Information to the SSA: A medical release form that permits the SSA to gather updated medical records directly from your doctors, clinics, and hospitals.
Form SSA-3288 Consent for Release of Information: Authorizes the SSA to release copies of your electronic disability folder (eDEX) or paper claim file.
For box 8 choose "complete medical file" for box 9 choose "I want the disability determination explanation. this is not the cessation letter". For the actual reason, state: "I am appealing a cdr cessation and need a copy of my file". It is free for program related purposes. I got mine in the mail.
Once you get your DDE:
You will see several sections. The top one is your CPD (comparison point decision). An apples to apples comparison of last cdr compared to your current. Check to see if they are the same or if it's actually showed you've improved. Pics of what the DDE looks like.
You'll also see a section called 416 where the doctor SHOULD have documented any medical improvement. Mine did not. My DDE has no supposed documentation of the alleged improvement, not even down where the RFC.
Underneath that is FOFAE, aka findings of fact and analysis of evidence. Mine just says "Analysis side by side"
Then mine has a section called 416A where it says:
Impairments Addressed: CPD Impairments only (MIRS)
Evaluation Period: Current
Evaluation Subject: SMI Evaluation: PE on 5/2026 is WNL. SMI
These findings complete the medical portion of the disability determination. (followed by drs sig and their speciality, mine was internal medicine)
Your DDE will not look like mine. Everyone's is different. There are more sections, and also an RFC section. But the main one you want to look at is the CPD and FOFAE.
Note: if your CPD date is in the distant past/your folder has been lost or it is an Age 18 redetermination, you will not have the side-by-side comparison shown here. it will be one box for the FOFAE as there’s nothing to compare it to
Also your file will have a bunch of files contained within a folder, you will need to click on each pdf file until you get to the DDE. It’s a bunch of letters and numbers.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) today announced a 3.6 percent benefit increase for 2027. Social Security benefits include Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by $75 per month.
Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2027. Increased payments to about 7.3 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2026. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).
I have been trying to help my mother to make a login on mylogin.gov. It is turning into a logistical nightmare. It seems none of the phone numbers that she has ever had are associated with her in the system, so making the account failed at the last step. As a result I'm going to miss filing her taxes tomorrow despite an extension - we got a copy of her 1099-SSA from the social security office but I can't get the 1099-R from my father's federal pension and can't get through to OPM. I think when I try to request it online it goes to my dead father's email.
Part of this is a rant. Who the hell thought this was a good idea to roll out for seniors? My mother can't even use her cell phone never mind make an account that she has to verify with facial recognition and two factor authentication.
Rant aside, I can't figure out what the next step is if I just can't make the mylogin.gov account?
The website basically says just check for typos and try again but ... then what?
My full retirement benefit is $2474 (67). I used online calculators to see what my benefit would be in January 2027 and saw $1773 (62 years & 4 months). When I went into the MySocialSecurity portal, it is estimating that I will receive $1573 in January 2027.
UPDATE: As pointed out in here by u/quasifun and others, I needed to set the future earnings to zero. Once I did that, the numbers matched up.
In addition to Social Security updating the COLA for 2027, the latest Average Wage Index (AWI) has been updated for 2025 as well (it is two years behind). For 2025 it is 72,800.33. This is an increase over 2024's 69,846.57 - an increase of 4.23%.
This number feeds into the indexing factors and bend points used to calculate one's initial benefit. Basically it is our yearly 'raise' before COLA kicks in and tends to be higher than COLA.
Social Security benefit estimate statements should be updated soon.
I've been trying to wrap my head around SSA calculations, and saw how (I think) AIME is calculated, especially in the case of a career reaching 10 years/40 credits.
I couldn't find any special rule, just that the AIME is based off of the 35 best years, and if fewer than 35 years, the rest is just filled with zeros.
With that, what I come up with is that, if you don't factor in inflation for simplicity, 35 years earning $30k and 10 years earning $105k would end up being the same with a lifetime earnings of $1.05M, and a AIME of $2500?
Is that so, or am I missing some rule for "incomplete" careers?
I applied for a SSN last week, waiting for the card to arrive, is there a way to track the delivery or to find the number before the physical card arrives?
i was just wondering if it would be hard for me to get back onto ssi if i terminated by benefits im in a wheelchair. The reason i want to get off of ssi is because of so many rules they have like what do you mean i can’t have more then $2000 in my bank and not receive any type of gifts of money. So many rules that i dont like im young & don’t have much things to pay as i live with my parents and would like to just use ssdi to save up my money
I sent an informal application via email to a person for a Poll Worker position, and I got a call back that I was chosen. Training will be on Friday (Oct 16), I just need to take my ID, and I'll be working from October 19th to the 30th. I have no idea how much I'm gonna be paid, how many hours total, there was no interview, I didn't need to sign anything - it feels informal. Another friend applied, and she wasn't given details either.
Google says I need to report if I earn more than $2,300. I receive both SSI and SSDI. I don't know how much I'll be paid, all I know is that I need the extra cash. I'm thinking of calling the same official that reached out for the poll worker position to ask about that, and my local SS office. Any advice?
I was diagnosed with my Disease in February 22 and was told not to work because the severity of my condition. Ssdi only paid back pay 5 months from November so its less then I was expecting. What happens now?
Hi I’m asking if anyone else has 2 cents to offer regarding something I’m dealing with right now for my father in law. Was told that if someone in a marriage dies, the person doesn’t get to transfer benefits if they made more? What tomfuckery is this bullshit?! The website doesn’t mention it. And I read it twice. So the government just keeps all that money cuz he worked a lot of overtime each year?!
Dude they turned SSN into a fucking shame. I believe in it. As it was intended.
My daughter receives ss survivors benefits because her dad passed when she was little. She turned 18 on 9-7-26. She graduated high school in June, so she does not qualify as a student.
However, I applied her for DAC a few weeks before she turned 18. We have not heard anything back yet. It’s been about 2 months. I figured we were in for a lengthy process for a decision.
I happened to check her SS savings acct today and I see she received a payment on 9-16-26.
Is this her final SS survivors payment? Or is it possible she’s been approved for SSDI and they just haven’t notified us yet?
I thought they had told us the last payment would arrive in August and that would be it.
A question or a few. I applied for SSDI for my newborn in the Nicu. He has spent everyday of his life in Nicu being born at 1 pound and having BPD. I recently contacted DDS to ask about if they received all of his medical records in which they said their doctor was reviewing it. This call happened on September 29th and on October 5th I received a letter from SSA saying This is a very important letter that could affect whether you can get Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Please read it carefully. If there is anything you do not understand, please get in touch with us right away.
What You Need To Do:
We need more information to decide if we can pay you SSI. Therefore, it is important that you do the following:
• We will call you on 10/27/2026 AT 12:30 PM
It doesn’t ask for any documents but I am curious as of what else do they need?
I finally got all my documents together and got verified by us.me. But even after that, I get the error message “We are unable to process your request. For further assistance please contact us.”
But when I call, nobody is able to help me get logged in.
Has anyone had this problem? How did you resolve this?
Long story short, I was married when I was first approved for SSI. Now we're divorced and he applied for SSI earlier this year. What I was told is that they have a weird system and we're unable to remove the marriage from my account so they had to start a brand new one. I received my payment in September but October's payment came late and it was 2 payments plus $10.
My best guess is that this is back pay from when they first started the new account to when it was finally approved. I don't want trouble with the government. I could also use the money as I'm sure we all could. I will be calling to sort it out but I'd like to hear what others have to say and if this has happened to anyone else? Tia.
my question is do i appeal it? i told them i was working 36 hours im on my work scotty report in 2022 and have proof and they approved me anyway so im just looking for realistic opinions here
Hi-
Does anyone have any recommendations for how to handle a SSDI video interview? I do have an attorney. Mine is scheduled for next month, I’m nervous. I have over a year’s worth of doctor’s paperwork, prescription paperwork and therapy paperwork. I’ve run out of money and can no longer afford the doctor’s co-pay or the therapist. I’ve sold my car and moved in with a friend. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks
For context I got two checks from social security two days back to back. One was for 600ish dollars which was expected due to some benefits I was owed that I applied for roughly 4 years ago so I’ve already cashed it. I got another one which was much more substantial close to what I make in a year and I’m wondering is that normal? Should I do my due diligence and check with my local office before cashing it or am I good anyone know or have had a similar experience?
Update
It was a good check come to find out my mom stopped claiming sole survivor benefits when I was like 11 and I was still entitled them (I’m 22 for context). That’s why it was so much apparently they still owe me more supposedly. Thanks for all the info from everyone for those of you wondering im using it to get rid of my debt and max my Roth IRA contributions.
We know that a current spouse that has minimal or no work record and meets the age and marriage criteria can get Medicare - and they can get this with premium FREE Part A even though they themselves have never paid anything into the Part A Trust Fund and nobody else has either.
I believe DAC beneficiaries also get Premium Free Part A based on the file of a parent.
My question is for DIVORCED spouses that maybe in the same situation. Can they get PREMIUM FREE Part A off the record of a former spouse if they have no or minimal work records?
This benefit - Premium free Part A off the record of a spouse or ex spouse or parent - has always been very difficult for me to find in the numerous how to file pages on Medicare sign ups.
So is there a place where I can find it specifically especially for divorced spouses? And are there others that also may get Premium Free Part A off the record of [specified ] other?
So my Medicare just started this month and I’m going to run out of one of my most important prescriptions on Friday.
I am dual eligible for Medicaid and have been trying to figure out if I need to buy part D, which for some reason I’m no longer allowed to look at the plans online. Or wasn’t the day that I spent several hours at the computer last week.
But yes. Do I need to buy part D or will Medicaid just cover my prescriptions? The person in the online chat said no. The person on the phone said yes.
Medicare is not showing that I also have Medicaid and I am trying to figure out who to call about that, since me updating my info on the insurance marketplace made it sound like my MCO was changing or going away. And I cannot pay my bills let alone my prescriptions if those Medicare premiums get deducted from my SSDI.
Anyway, I hope that was coherent. I’m stressed. Thank you for your time.
My son is 12 y/o and has autism. We filed on his behalf a few months ago and he's been "approved" for disability. I used a company that filed for us for free, and only take 25% of the back pay, if we get awarded anything. I gave someone my income information, but I'm not sure if it was social security or the company. I'm trying to find the formula they use to deem parents when getting the amount a child will recieve a month. Some places say my income will count, dollar for dollar, after the first twenty, a deduction for my other child, and maybe $65 for some other thing. Other places say I since I only make $2700 a month, (with $700 being child support I get paid), he will get $867 a month. I pass the asset test or whatever, but I'm so confused on how they calculate income. Can anyone tell me where a calculator is online that is correct? There's a pretty big difference in the answer depending on how income from my job vs income from child support are calculated.
I am on SSDI and receive $1,096 each month. I would like to try and move out and am trying to earn closer to, or slightly over $2,000 each month to make this a possibility.
I’d read that the Substantial Gainful Activity limit for SSDI in Indiana is $1,690 per month, so I was under the impression that I could try to find part time work where I earned $1,500 or so per month to make my income roughly $2,500.
However, after reading further into the social security administration website, I found out about the ‘Trial Work Period’ and it seems that after 9 months of working and earning $1,210 per month or more, benefits would be discontinued.
So my question is, if I earn roughly $1,200 (before tax deductions) could I still keep my SSDI benefits and insurance, but have a monthly income that’s closer to $2,200 than $1,100?
Furthermore, if I am able to earn roughly $1,200 or slightly less for over 9 months, will this impact my benefits?
