Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) in Florida: What Long-Term Disability Recipients Need to Know

Many people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, South Florida, and across the state of Florida are surprised to learn that their disability benefits can still be reviewed; sometimes after a decade or more of uninterrupted payments.

When a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) notice arrives, the reaction is often immediate anxiety.

This article is intended to provide clear, accurate public education about CDRs: what they are, why they happen, and how Florida disability beneficiaries can protect themselves without panic or misinformation.

What Is a Continuing Disability Review (CDR)?

A Continuing Disability Review, commonly called

a CDR, is a routine process used by the Social Security Administration to determine whether a person continues to meet the federal definition of disability.

A CDR is not:

- A fraud investigation

- An accusation of wrongdoing

- A penalty for receiving benefits

It is an administrative review required by federal law and applies to disability recipients throughout Florida and the United States, regardless of how long they have been on benefits.

Why Are People Reviewed After 5, 10, or 15 Years on SSDI?

Social Security does not base CDRs on how long someone has received benefits. Reviews are scheduled based primarily on the medical nature of the impairment, using internal review “diaries.”

Medical conditions are generally classified as:

- Expected to improve

- Possibly able to improve

- Not expected to improve

Even in the most severe category, reviews can still occur—just less frequently.

In recent years, including throughout South Florida, many scheduled reviews were delayed

due to pandemic disruptions and staffing shortages. As those backlogs clear, some beneficiaries are now receiving reviews later

than anticipated, which can make the process

feel sudden or arbitrary.

It is neither.

Mental Health vs. Physical Disabilities:

Why Outcomes Can Differ

One of the most important—and least

understood—distinctions in CDR cases involves the type of impairment.

Mental Health Conditions

This includes depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and related conditions.

Mental health cases are often more vulnerable during CDRs because Social Security relies heavily on treatment notes and provider language rather than objective testing.

Common chart phrases such as:

- “Doing well”

- “Mood stable”

- “Symptoms controlled”

- “Improved with treatment”

may unintentionally suggest improved work capacity, even when daily functioning remains limited.

Clinical stability does not equal the ability to sustain competitive employment, but that distinction must be clearly reflected in the

medical record.

Physical Impairments

Physical conditions—such as orthopedic injuries, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, or cardiac impairments—tend to rely more on objective evidence like imaging, exams, or laboratory findings.

These cases can still face problems during CDRs when:

- Medical records are outdated

- Treatment stopped due to “stability”

- Functional limitations are not clearly documented

A lack of recent evidence can be misinterpreted as improvement.

Best Practices for Florida Disability Beneficiaries

Receiving SSDI does not require constant vigilance, but some basic habits significantly reduce risk during a CDR.

Maintain ongoing medical care

Even when symptoms are stable, periodic treatment creates a record confirming continued limitations.

Ensure records reflect functional limitations

Social Security evaluates how a condition affects the ability to function consistently, not just the diagnosis itself.

Avoid minimizing symptoms in medical visits

Many long-term beneficiaries unintentionally downplay symptoms out of resilience or habit. Unfortunately, this can undermine later reviews.

Respond promptly to Social Security correspondence. Many benefit interruptions

occur for procedural reasons rather than medical findings.

Understand that a CDR is not a decision

Most beneficiaries who respond fully and on

time continue receiving benefits.

A Common Misconception That Causes Harm

A frequent belief among long-term SSDI recipients in Florida is:

“If I was approved once, Social Security will always understand my situation.”

In reality, Social Security evaluates current documentation, not prior approvals.

This does not mean the system is hostile but it is impersonal. And impersonal systems require clarity rather than assumptions.

Final Thoughts for Disability Recipients in Florida

Whether you live in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, or elsewhere in Florida, a Continuing Disability Review is something to be informed about—not afraid of.

Preparation is not paranoia.

Stability is not recovery.

And a review notice does not mean benefits are about to end.

It simply means the system is functioning as designed, sometimes imperfectly, sometimes late, but predictably.

Public understanding reduces fear.

Clear information protects people.

Christopher Pinger-Borgia

Social Security Disability Firm

David B. Gottesmann