Submit your Disability Update Report Online

By Deborah Banikowski
District Manager, Syracuse

We are required to conduct continuing eligibility reviews for disabled beneficiaries every three years. This process requires that beneficiaries complete a Continuing Disability Review mailer to update information about their medical conditions and recent treatments.

We now offer an online option to complete this update and provide any supporting documents about your medical treatment or your work.

We designed this new form with convenience in mind — and to save you time. You can access the online form at www.ssa.gov/ssa455-online-form. (Use either Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome for the best online experience.)

You will need your Social Security number, your current address and phone number, and a valid email address to complete the form. Also, you must have received a request for an updated disability report in the mail.

Once you “Click to Sign,” you will receive an email from echosign.com asking you to confirm your digital signature. Check your junk folder if you don’t receive it within a few minutes. Your signature isn’t complete — and your form won’t be processed — until you complete the instructions in your email.

Please visit our blog at blog.ssa.gov for more articles — and our frequently asked questions page at ssa.gov/faq. Please be sure to let your friends and loved ones know about this new online option.

NOTE: The mention of Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by the Social Security Administration


Q&A

Q: Who can get “Extra Help” with Medicare prescription drug coverage?

A: Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and you pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage. People with higher incomes might pay a higher premium.

If you have limited income and resources, you may be eligible for “Extra Help” to pay for the costs — monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments — related to a Medicare prescription drug plan. To qualify for “Extra Help,” you must reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. For 2021, your resources must be limited to $14,610 (or $29,160 if you are married and living with your spouse). Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count your house and car as resources. Your annual income must be limited to $19,140 (or $25,860 if you are married and living with your spouse).

Even if your annual income is higher, you still may be able to get some help. Learn more at www.saa.gov/prescriptionhelp.

Q: If I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits, what is the effect on my benefits if I work?

A: In most cases, your return to work would reduce your benefit amount. Unlike Social Security disability, there is no “trial work period” for people who get SSI disability benefits. Reporting wages each month helps us pay the correct amount of SSI. Timely reporting may also prevent you from owing us money or may allow us to pay a higher amount. We have several publications about SSI, including “Reporting Your Wages When You Receive Supplemental Security Income,” available at www.ssa.gov/pubs. Note that there are other work incentives that can help you return to work when you receive SSI. You can read about them in “What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI),” also available at www.ssa.gov/pubs. For more information, visit www.ssa.gov.

Q: I recently applied for a replacement Social Security card, but I might be moving before it arrives in the mail. What should I do if I move before I get it?

A: Once we have verified all your documents and processed your application, it takes approximately 10 to 14 days to receive your replacement Social Security card. If you move after applying for your new card, notify the post office of your change of address and the post office will forward your card to your new address. If you do not receive your card, please contact your local Social Security office. To get a replacement, you will have to resubmit your evidence of identity and U.S. citizenship, or your lawful immigration status and authority to work. You can learn more at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.