Written by: Gayle Gonzalez Conner
For the millions of Americans battling a disability, Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits can be life-changing. Receiving money each month can often be the difference between food and shelter and hunger and homelessness for those who are partially or totally unable to work. For individuals who depend on SSD benefits to manage their financial obligations, the prospect of losing those benefits can be a significant source of concern. With so much at stake, the last thing an SSD recipient would want is for his or her benefits to be discontinued. This is why it is so important to understand what could cause this to occur. Below are the most common reasons SSD benefits may be revoked.
1. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
To qualify for SSD, you must be unable to engage in what the Social Security Administration calls Substantial Gainful Activity. If your earnings exceed a certain monthly threshold—$1,620/month in 2025 for most individuals, or $2,700/month for statutorily blind individuals—your benefits may be terminated.
To keep your disability benefits from being terminated, you must avoid making enough money to constitute substantial gainful activity. However, the Social Security Administration allows you a nine-month trial work period to determine whether you can return to work, and will only count your income after the trial work period is complete.
During a trial work period, a beneficiary receiving Social Security disability benefits may test his or her ability to work and still be considered disabled. You can work for nine months (not necessarily consecutive) over a rolling 60-month period. In 2025, any month in which earnings exceed $1,160 is considered a month of services for an individual’s trial work period. The trial work period does not apply to SSI benefits.
2. Medical Improvement
If your medical condition improves to the point where you no longer meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability, your benefits can be stopped. The Social Security Administration conducts Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) at intervals based on the likelihood of improvement:
- Every 6–18 months, if improvement is expected
- Every 3 years, if improvement is possible
- Every 7 years, if improvement is not expected
If substantial medical improvement is found, your benefits may be terminated. This does not mean minor improvements will automatically disqualify you, but rather that the Social Security Administration is looking for significant changes that would enable you to return to work.
3. Failure to Cooperate with the Social Security Administration
Your benefits may be revoked if you:
- Fail to submit the requested documentation
- Miss scheduled medical evaluations
- Provide inaccurate or misleading information
Lack of cooperation can result in the suspension or termination of your benefits.
4. Failure to Follow Prescribed Treatment
If you do not follow your doctor’s recommended treatment plan—and there is no valid reason for noncompliance—your benefits may be discontinued. This assumes that the treatment could restore your ability to work at a level considered Substantial Gainful Activity. The Social Security Administration must believe that the treatment would enable you to return to work.
Conditions for Revocation
The Social Security Administration will consider revoking benefits for failure to follow prescribed treatment only if:
- You are otherwise eligible for benefits.
- There is clear evidence that your medical provider prescribed treatment for the condition on which your disability is based.
- You did not follow the prescribed treatment.
- The Social Security Administration determines that the treatment would likely restore your ability to work.
What Counts as Prescribed Treatment?
Prescribed treatment may include:
- Taking specific medications
- Attending physical therapy
- Undergoing surgery
Good Cause Exceptions
You will not lose benefits if you have a valid reason for not following treatment, such as:
- Severe side effects: The side effects of a prescribed medication are worse than your symptoms.
- High risk of treatment: The treatment involves a high risk of death, amputation, or other serious complications.
- The prescribed treatment goes against your sincerely held religious beliefs.
- Inability to afford the treatment. You are willing to follow the treatment but cannot afford it and are unable to access free or low-cost alternatives.
The Social Security Administration must consider these factors before making a final decision.
5. Incarceration
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments generally are not payable for months during which you are imprisoned for committing a crime. This includes when you are confined to a jail, prison, or certain other public institutions.
If you receive Social Security, your benefits may be suspended if you are convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to jail or prison for more than 30 continuous days. Your benefits may be reinstated starting with the month following the month of your release. Although you cannot receive monthly Social Security benefits while you are incarcerated, benefits to your spouse or children will continue as long as they remain eligible.
If you are receiving SSI, payments will be suspended while you are in prison. Your payments can start again in the month you are released. However, if your confinement lasts for 12 consecutive months or longer, you will no longer be eligible for SSI payments, and you must file a new application after your release.
To keep your Social Security Disability benefits from being revoked, you should:
- Avoid doing anything that would constitute substantial gainful activity unless you are ready to return to work.
- Participate in all scheduled medical reviews.
- Cooperate with the SSA and provide all requested information.
- Follow the treatment plan your doctor gives you.
- Avoid doing anything that could cause you to be convicted of a crime.
