How Long Can You Receive Disability Benefits?

Social Security disability benefits usually last for as long as you remain disabled, up to retirement age. But disability benefits aren’t guaranteed until then. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can end them early if you make too much money, your medical condition has improved to the point where you're no longer considered disabled, or you stop being eligible under the technical criteria of the program you're receiving benefits from (SSDI or SSI).

While keeping disability benefits is typically easier than qualifying for them in the first place, it's important to know what actions can signal to the SSA that the agency should terminate your benefits. Knowing when (and how much) you can work, as well as what medical records you should provide to Social Security to show that you're still disabled, can help you plan your financial future accordingly. 

Your Benefits Will End If You Start Earning Too Much

Working can affect your disability benefits. If you start working or you begin earning too much money, your benefits could stop.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are meant to help people who can't work full-time due to a medical condition. Social Security considers "full-time work" to be earnings at or above a specific dollar amount called substantial gainful activity (SGA), which is $1,690 per month in 2026 ($2,830 if you're blind). If you begin earning more than the SGA amount, the agency will eventually stop sending you benefits.

Furthermore, because SSI is a needs-based benefit, if you work while receiving SSI, you'll also need to stay under the SSI income limits. And Social Security will reduce your SSI payments in any month that you have countable income.

Even if your earnings stay below the SGA or SSI income limits, Social Security might see your ability to work at all as evidence that your condition has improved. The agency does have programs that will allow you to try working for a period of time without the risk of losing your benefits, however. (For more information on these programs, see our selection of articles on returning to work while receiving disability benefits.)

Your Benefits Could End If Your Medical Condition Improves

Social Security will stop your disability benefits if your health improves enough that you're no longer medically disabled. When you're receiving SSDI or SSI disability benefits, the agency will periodically review your case to determine whether or not your condition still qualifies you for disability payments. This type of review is known as a continuing disability review (CDR).

How Often Do Continuing Disability Reviews Happen?

Most people can expect a CDR sometime between every three and seven years, depending on your condition. (Some conditions that meet certain disability listings are scheduled for a CDR one year after approval, but then switch over to the longer schedule for later CDRs). The less likely that your condition is expected to improve, the fewer CDRs you'll have, but Social Security can adjust the frequency of your CDRs based on new evidence. 

What Are the Chances Your Benefits Will Be Cut Off After a CDR?

Low–the vast majority of disability recipients pass their CDRs.  That's because Social Security can't end your disability benefits unless the agency finds evidence you've improved enough to be able to return to work, which is difficult to prove. If your health has remained the same (or even improved slightly), your benefits should continue. Even if a CDR claims examiner disagrees that you're still disabled, you have the right to appeal a CDR cessation.

Other Reasons Your Benefits Can Be Discontinued

The above situations are the most common reasons Social Security might terminate your disability benefits before you retire. But there are other reasons your benefits could end early.

Failing to Report Changes to Social Security

When you're collecting disability benefits, you're required to report certain changes to Social Security. When you're receiving SSDI, you need to report the following:

• changes to your medical condition
• if you start collecting other disability benefits (like workers' compensation)
• if you start or stop working, and
• changes to your earned income.

If you're getting SSI benefits, in addition to the above items, you must also report the following:

• an increase in your assets (like an inheritance)
• changes to your spouse's income and resources
• changes to your living arrangements
• if you get married or divorced, and
• other changes that could affect your eligibility.

If you try to keep your benefits by not reporting these changes to Social Security, you might lose your benefits and have to repay disability overpayments.

Leaving the Country

You might lose your disability benefits in some less common situations as well. Leaving the country can affect your benefits, depending on several factors, including:

• whether you receive SSDI or SSI
• what country you go to
• how long you'll be abroad, and
• whether you're a citizen of the United States or another country.

For more information, see our article on how going abroad can affect your disability benefits.

Being Incarcerated

Although being convicted of a crime usually won't cause your disability benefits to end, being sent to prison generally will. If you're incarcerated, Social Security can suspend your benefits until you're released. Learn more about how going to jail affects SSI and SSDI benefits.

Death of the Beneficiary

When someone receiving SSDI dies, Social Security won't pay disability benefits for the month the person died. But certain family members of a deceased SSDI recipient might be eligible for survivors benefits. (Note that survivors benefits aren't available to the family members of people receiving SSI when they died.)

What Happens to Your Disability Benefits at Retirement Age?

Once you've been awarded SSDI, there's a good chance you'll keep receiving benefits until you reach full retirement age (67 for people born in 1960 and later). At retirement age, your monthly payments will automatically convert into Social Security retirement income. 

If you've been receiving SSI disability, when you turn 65, your payments will become SSI for the aged. Also, if you're receiving SSI at age 62, but you're eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security will apply for those benefits for you. The amount of your retirement benefit will be deducted from your SSI payment as unearned income.

How Long Do Children's Disability Benefits Last?

Children with disabilities whose families meet the income and asset requirements of the SSI program can usually receive SSI benefits until they're 18. At age 18, Social Security will reevaluate their medical condition according to the adult disability criteria (called an age 18 redetermination). Social Security conducts this review because disabilities are assessed differently for children and adults.

If the child meets Social Security's definition of disability for adults, the child can continue receiving SSI benefits, or they might be able to start getting SSDI benefits as a disabled adult child if they have a parent who is covered under SSDI. The "disabled adult child" program lets adults who became disabled before age 22 get SSDI based on the work record of a parent, provided they aren't married and meet Social Security's definition of disability for adults. 

Getting Help If You Lose Your Disability Benefits

Social Security disability benefits provide the income you need when you can no longer work because of a disability (and you were no doubt counting on those benefits continuing until you retire). If your SSDI or SSI has been cut off, an experienced disability attorney might be able to help you get your benefits restarted after they've been terminated. Most disability attorneys offer free consultations, so there's little risk in asking around to find a lawyer who can advise you on your next steps.