I was awarded disability in 2013 with back pay back to Dec 2010. Officially disability Jan 2010. I'm now 60 yoa. I get review every 3 years. I multiple medical issues one of which is Minere's Disease or Vertigo. It was sereve enough to cause 2 grand mail seizures and warranty brain surgery in 2011. My question is my judge at my hearing knew immediately as soon after he reviewed the surgery and said he was going to grant my disability but we still had to go through the process of which I really didn't have any part in except to answer yes or no a few times. So why is my review 3 years and not 7 years? I have students loans I could get dismissed if I was on a 7 year review. Is there any way I can request it be changed?
Thank you

Hi,

The duration of years between medical reviews for people receiving Social Security disability benefits is determined by the Disability Determinations Office (DDO) in their state. Each state has a DDO that contracts with Social Security to make medical disability determinations for disability claims, including medical reviews.

I'm not familiar with the specific criteria used by DDOs to set medical review diaries, so I can't tell you why your medical review diary was set at 3 years instead of 7. I do know that a 3 year diary is used when medical improvement is thought to be possible, while 7 year diaries are used only when medical improvement isn't expected.

Your diary could only be changed by the DDO in your state during the processing of a continuing disability review (CDR). Therefore, the earliest that your review diary could potentially be changed to 7 years is when your next scheduled medical review is processed.

Best, Jerry