If you’re receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you already know how vital those benefits are. They provide critical financial support when a serious medical condition prevents you from working. But what if those benefits suddenly stopped?
There’s been a lot of alarming headlines floating around about cuts to Social Security disability benefits. While some people could lose benefits, it’s usually only for specific, preventable reasons. This guide will walk you through the top reasons people lose SSDI or SSI—and more importantly, how to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.
1. Your Medical Condition Improves
The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t assume you’re permanently disabled forever. They schedule periodic Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) to determine if you still qualify:
- Reviews every 6–18 months if improvement is expected
- Reviews every 3 years if improvement is possible
- Reviews every 5–7 years if improvement isn’t expected
To protect yourself, make sure to keep detailed medical records, attend your appointments, and make sure your records reflect your current symptoms, limitations, and treatments.
2. Not Responding to SSA Requests
Failing to respond to SSA letters or skipping medical exams can lead to benefit suspension—even if your medical condition hasn’t changed.
According to SSA, “Your disability benefits will stop… if you aren’t cooperating with us and you don’t have a good reason for not cooperating.”
The best way to protect yourself from a problem like this is to open every letter from SSA right away, respond promptly to requests and attend all required appointments and reviews.
3. Refusing Recommended Treatment
If you turn down treatments that could reasonably improve your condition and help you return to work—without a valid reason—SSA may terminate your benefits.
Valid reasons to refuse treatment include:
- Religious beliefs
- High cost
- Serious side effects
- High risk
You can protect yourself from a problem like this by discussing all treatment options with your doctor and diligently documenting any reasons why you refuse treatment.
4. Earning Too Much from Work
Disability benefits are meant for people who can’t perform Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) due to their condition.
In 2025, the SGA limits are:
- $1,620/month for non-blind individuals
- $2,700/month for statutorily blind individuals
SSDI recipients can try returning to work during a Trial Work Period. In 2025, any month you earn over $1,160 counts as a trial work month.
How to protect your benefits, make sure that you track your earnings carefully and report all work activity to SSA. You can also get help from a benefits counselor or use SSA’s Work Incentives Planning services
5. Incarceration
SSDI benefits are suspended after 30 days of incarceration. SSI benefits are suspended after one full calendar month and are terminated after 12 months of confinement.
It may be helpful if you have someone notify SSA if you are incarcerated and report your release immediately to restart your benefits.
6. Marriage (in Some Cases)
Marriage doesn’t affect SSDI benefits based on your own work history, but it might if you’re receiving benefits based on someone else’s record:
- Disabled Adult Child Benefits often end upon marriage (unless marrying another DAC)
- Survivor benefits can end if you remarry before a certain age
If you aren’t sure how marriage could affect your benefits, make sure to contact SSA before getting married for clarification.
7. Fraud, Reporting Errors, or Overpayments
Failing to report work activity, income, or health improvements can trigger overpayments. Even SSA’s own errors can result in you owing money.
You can help avoid these problems by reporting all changes to the SSA right away, keeping records of your communication and requesting a waiver if you receive an overpayment notice.
Other Situations to Know
Here are two more situations that don’t usually cause problems—but often get misreported:
- Turning Retirement Age: SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at full retirement age. This doesn’t stop or reduce your benefits.
- Being Declared Dead by Mistake: Yes, it happens. SSA may mistakenly flag living people as deceased due to clerical errors. If it happens, your benefits may stop suddenly. We’ve got a full guide on what to do if SSA declares you dead—check it out here.
Relief Recap
Most people don’t lose SSDI benefits out of nowhere—it happens for preventable reasons. Stay on top of your medical care, report changes quickly, and respond to SSA communications. And if you’re ever unsure, call SSA directly to ask how your situation might affect your benefits.