Social Security Administration (SSA) Annual Data for
Periodic Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR)
Processed and Backlog
Download the Periodic CDR Cases - Processed dataset
(Updated )
This dataset contains data for fiscal year(s) 2013 on and is currently available in the following format(s):
Download the Periodic CDR Cases - Backlog dataset
(Updated )
This dataset contains data for fiscal year(s) 2014 - 2018 and is currently available in the following format(s):
Dataset Index for Periodic CDR Cases - Processed and Backlog
Periodic CDR Cases - Processed
Agency Program Description for Periodic CDR Cases - Processed
We perform Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) to determine if disabled beneficiaries still meet the medical requirements for eligibility. We conduct two types of CDRs: full medical reviews and mailers. Using computer-scoring models, we identify cases for which there is a lower likelihood of demonstrating medical improvement. In those cases, we send a questionnaire (mailer) to the beneficiary in order to obtain additional information, which we then use to determine if a full medical review is appropriate. Full medical reviews are expensive because each one requires a new medical evaluation and disability determination.
This important agency activity is fully explained in the Annual Report on Continuing Disability Reviews - Fiscal Year (FY) 2014.
Data Collection Description
We conduct periodic CDRs to ensure that only those beneficiaries who remain disabled continue to receive monthly benefits. For case reviews that we initiate centrally when a medical review diary matures, we conduct periodic CDRs using one of two methods. We send some cases to the State Disability Determination Services (DDS) for a full medical review; we complete others using the mailer process.
We decide whether to initiate a full medical review or send a mailer after determining the likelihood of medical improvement. We send cases with higher likelihood of medical improvement to DDSs for full medical reviews. For those cases with lower likelihood of medical improvement, we send mailers to obtain more information from the beneficiaries, which we evaluate to determine if there is any indication of medical improvement. If we find an indication of medical improvement, we send the case to a DDS for a full medical review. Otherwise, we set a new medical review diary and schedule the case for a future CDR.
We conduct some CDRs outside the centralized process based on events such as voluntary or third-party reports of medical improvement. We always send these CDRs to the DDSs for a full medical review. In addition, there is a subset of cases where the medical review diary matures but we curtail further development for technical reasons, such as the suspension or termination of benefits for non-medical reasons. We refer to these cases as "administrative closures".
Notes for Periodic CDR Cases - Processed
- A Federal Fiscal Year (FY) is the 12-month period that starts the Saturday after the last Friday of September and ends the last Friday of September. Most years our fiscal year workload reports contain 52 weeks since we include only full weeks, rather than cut off in the middle of a week. Every few years the reporting period is 53 weeks when we apply the end of week cutoff. FYr 2016 is a 53 week year for our workload reports.
- Single asterisk (*): Per 20 CFR 404.1587 and 404.1596 (title II) and 20 CFR 416.992 (title XVI) (71 FR 60819, October 17, 2006), beneficiaries who failed to comply with the SSA Field Office's request for necessary information during the CDR have had their eligibility for disability benefits terminated after 12 consecutive months of suspension for non-compliance. (Failure to cooperate events that occur after the FMR is underway are reported in the FMR column.)
- Double asterisk (**): Other periodic review CDR cases are reviews initiated for reasons other than the maturing of a medical review diary. Examples of such cases are voluntary beneficiary/recipient reports or third party reports indicating that the individual may no longer be disabled.
- Triple asterisk (***): Administrative closures are cases initiated as periodic CDRs, but development was curtailed for technical reasons, such as the suspension or termination of benefits for other reasons, including the death of the beneficiary.
Data Dictionary for Periodic CDR Cases - Processed
Fiscal Year (FY): A 12-month period that starts the Saturday after the last Friday of September and ends the last Friday of September.
Program Involvement: The listing by Old Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance (OASDI or Title II) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI or Title XVI) with sub-categories (i.e. disabled workers, disabled adults, disabled children, etc.). Section 1614(a) (4) of the Act gives us discretionary authority to conduct periodic CDRs on SSI recipients. On September 28, 1994, we issued a Federal Register notice that we would begin conducting periodic SSI CDRs on October 1, 1994, so the data reflects both OASDI and SSI data.
Total CDRs Processed: The number of CDR cases processed for each FY.
Mailers Only: The number of deferrals after review.
Initial Field Office FTC (failure to cooperate) Terminations: The number of beneficiaries who had their eligibility for disability benefits terminated for non-compliance with the field office request for necessary information.
Full Medical Reviews (FMRs): The number of cases that resulted in a full medical review.
Initial Cessations (FMRs): The number of cases in which there was an initial determination that benefits should cease. This data does not include any changes in cessation decisions resulting from appeals.
Periodic CDR Cases - Backlog
Agency Program Description for Periodic CDR Cases - Backlog
Periodic CDRs on Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) beneficiaries are mandated by the Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980. The Commissioner of Social Security may make determinations to waive the requirement that we review the continuing eligibility of disability beneficiaries with non-permanent disabilities at least once every 3 years. We consider the cases for which we do not conduct a timely (3 year) periodic CDR as backlogged until we are able to initiate the CDR for those cases. SSA ended FY 2018 with no backlog.
Section 1614(a) (4) of the Act gives us discretionary authority to conduct periodic CDRs on SSI recipients. On September 28, 1994, we issued a Federal Register notice that we would begin conducting periodic SSI CDRs on October 1, 1994.
This important agency activity is fully explained in the Annual Report on Continuing Disability Review - FY 2014.
Notes for Periodic CDR Cases - Processed
- A Federal Fiscal Year (FY) is the 12-month period that starts the Saturday after the last Friday of September and ends the last Friday of September. Most years our fiscal year workload reports contain 52 weeks since we include only full weeks, rather than cut off in the middle of a week. Every few years the reporting period is 53 weeks when we apply the end of week cutoff. FY 2016 is a 53 week year for our workload reports.
- Single asterisk (*): SSA ended FY 2018 with no backlog.
Data Dictionary for Periodic CDR Cases - Backlog
Fiscal Year (FY): A 12-month period that starts the Saturday after the last Friday of September and ends the last Friday of September.
OASDI-Title II: The counts of Social Security Title II periodic CDRs in the backlog. This is a net figure of unreleased full medical review cases.
SSI-Title XVI Adult: The counts of Supplemental Security Income adult periodic CDRs in the backlog. This is a net figure of unreleased full medical review cases.
SSI-Title XVI Low Birth Weight: The counts of Supplemental Security Income children's CDR cases in the backlog that were awarded disability based on low birth weight criteria. This is a net figure of unreleased full medical review cases.
SSI-Title XVI Other Children: The counts of Supplemental Security Income children's CDR cases in the backlog that were awarded based on other than low birth weight criteria. This is a net figure of unreleased full medical review cases.
Total Backlog: The total number of CDRs not released on time based on a net figure of unreleased full medical review cases.