Social Security requires an individual to follow prescribed treatment which would be expected to restore the claimant’s ability to return to work. This is true even once a claimant has been approved for benefits. Typically SSA will conduct a medical review two to seven years after a claimant has been awarded benefits. During a medical review SSA will obtain a claimant’s medical records to determine if he/she is still disabled despite following the prescribed treatment his/her doctor recommends. If a claimant has stopped going to the doctor and/or stopped complaining about his her condition(s)/symptoms it is possible that SSA will stop paying benefits to the claimant.

Therefore, the attorneys at Social Security Law Center encourage our former clients to remain in treatment and continue to document their condition(s)/symptoms after they have been approved for benefits.