How long does a medical CDR take after getting SSDI trial work month notice?

These Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) typically take 3-5 months, but it can vary depending on your state's DDS backlog. Since they've already determined you haven't used any Trial Work Period months (meaning you're earning under the TWP amount, which is $1,110/month for 2025), this is probably just a scheduled medical review, not triggered by your work activity. You should gather recent medical records from all your providers and be prepared to complete forms about your current symptoms and limitations. They may also schedule a consultative exam with one of their doctors.

OMG THESE TAKE FOREVER!!! I've been waiting SEVEN MONTHS on my CDR and still nothing!!! Every time I call they just say "still processing" and hang up on me after waiting for 2+ hours. The whole system is designed to make you give up. Don't expect anything soon - they're probably hoping you'll magically get better while you wait.

my review took about 4 months last year. not too bad. just make sure you return all the paperwork they send you right away. they'll ask about your daily activities and stuff

I went through this last year after starting some very part-time work. The letter is actually good news - they're confirming you haven't used any Trial Work Period months! That means your earnings are below the TWP threshold ($1,110/month for 2025) and your SSDI benefits are safe. The medical review is likely just a coincidence - they do these every 3-7 years depending on your condition. For me, the timeline was: - Received notice: January - Forms to complete: February - Consultative exam: April - Decision: May So about 4 months total. But I was having a terrible time reaching anyone at SSA by phone - constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting forever. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 10 minutes. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Saved me tons of stress during the review process since I could actually ask questions about what was happening. Definitely worth it for peace of mind!

One important thing to understand is that there are different types of reviews. A full medical CDR is more involved than a mailer review. Based on your letter, you're getting a full medical review where they reassess if you still meet the disability criteria. Typical timeframes in my experience: - Short form mailer: 2-3 months - Full medical CDR: 4-6 months - CDRs with complications: 6-12+ months Factors that can extend the timeline include: 1. Difficulty obtaining medical records 2. Need for consultative exams 3. Backlogs at your state's DDS office 4. Complexity of your medical condition The process typically involves: - Initial notification (what you received) - Forms to complete about your condition and activities - Medical records collection - Possible consultative exam - Medical review by DDS - Decision My recommendation is to be proactive - gather your medical records, keep a journal of your symptoms, and document how your condition limits your activities. This information will be valuable when completing their forms.

Is anyone else confused about why they're doing a medical review if they already determined you haven't used trial work months? I thought these were separate things. When I started working part-time with my SSDI, they just monitored my earnings but didn't do a medical review until 5 years after I was first approved. The whole system is so confusing!!

Thanks everyone for your responses! I'm feeling a bit better understanding that this might just be a routine review. I've been gathering my medical records and making notes about how my condition affects me daily. One more question - does anyone know if they typically notify you before sending you to one of their doctors for an exam?

Has anyone successfully challenged a CDR decision? My cousin was cut off even though his condition was the same, and it took him nearly 2 years to get benefits reinstated with backpay. The whole time he couldn't work OR get benefits! What a nightmare system.

dont stress abt it too much mine took like 5 months n then i got a letter saying nothing changed. they just do these reviews to scare ppl tbh

I went through a similar CDR about 2 years ago when I started doing some freelance work. The whole process was nerve-wracking, but it ended up being pretty straightforward. Mine took about 5 months from start to finish. A few tips that helped me: - Keep copies of everything you send them - Respond to all forms quickly (they have deadlines) - Be honest but thorough about your limitations on the forms - If they schedule a consultative exam, don't skip it - that can really hurt your case The good news is that since you're earning under the SGA limit and they confirmed no TWP months were used, your work activity isn't the issue here. This is likely just a routine medical review based on your approval date and condition type. Try not to stress too much about it (easier said than done, I know!). The majority of CDRs result in continued benefits, especially if your condition hasn't significantly improved. Just make sure you document how your disability still affects your daily life and ability to work full-time.

I'm new to this community but currently going through my first CDR after being on SSDI for about 18 months. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences here - it's really helpful to see the different timelines and what to expect. I received my initial CDR paperwork about 6 weeks ago and just sent everything back. Now I'm in the waiting phase and honestly pretty anxious about it. My condition (fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue) hasn't improved at all, but I know these invisible disabilities can be harder to document sometimes. One question for those who've been through this - do they typically request records from ALL your doctors, or just certain specialists? I see about 4 different providers regularly and wasn't sure if I should have them all send records or wait to see what SSA specifically requests. Thanks again for all the helpful info in this thread!

I just went through a CDR last year and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some anxiety. The whole process took about 6 months for me from initial notice to final decision. Here's what my timeline looked like: - Month 1: Received the initial CDR notice (similar to yours) - Month 2: Got the disability report forms to fill out - Month 3: Submitted all paperwork and medical releases - Month 4: They scheduled a consultative exam - Month 5: Had the CE appointment - Month 6: Received favorable decision letter The consultative exam was honestly not as bad as I expected - it was pretty basic, just checking range of motion, asking about symptoms, and reviewing my medical history. The doctor spent about 20-30 minutes with me. My biggest advice is to be really detailed on those disability report forms about how your condition affects your daily activities. Don't just say "I have pain" - explain specifically how the pain prevents you from doing household tasks, concentrating at work, sleeping, etc. They want to see functional limitations, not just diagnoses. Also, make sure your treating doctors have recent notes in your file that document your ongoing symptoms and limitations. I actually scheduled appointments with my main doctors right after getting the CDR notice just to make sure there were current records available. Good luck with your review! The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but most people do get continued benefits if their condition hasn't significantly improved.

I'm going through my first CDR right now too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm about 2 months into the process - got my initial notice in January and just completed all the disability report forms last week. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I called the DDS office directly (not the main SSA number) to check on my case status and they were actually pretty helpful. They confirmed they received my paperwork and gave me a rough timeline of 3-4 more months for a decision. The representative also mentioned that they prefer when people are thorough on the forms rather than brief, which aligns with what others have said here about being detailed about functional limitations. For anyone still waiting to hear back - I've been tracking my case online through my SSA account and it does show when they receive documents, which at least gives some peace of mind that things aren't getting lost in the system. The uncertainty is definitely stressful but reading everyone's experiences here makes it feel less overwhelming. Thanks to everyone who's shared their timelines and advice!

I'm also going through a CDR right now and this thread has been such a lifesaver! I got my notice about 3 weeks ago and have been pretty anxious about the whole process. Reading everyone's experiences and timelines really helps put things in perspective. One thing I wanted to ask - for those who've completed the disability report forms, how detailed did you get when describing daily activities? I'm struggling with how to explain that some days are better than others with my condition (chronic pain and depression). Should I focus on my worst days, average days, or try to explain the variability? I don't want to undersell my limitations, but I also want to be honest about the fact that my symptoms fluctuate. Some days I can do more household tasks or have better concentration, but other days I can barely function. Has anyone dealt with describing variable symptoms in their CDR paperwork? Also really appreciate the tip about calling the DDS office directly - definitely going to try that if I need to check on status. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it makes this whole process feel less isolating!

I'm currently going through my second CDR (first one was about 4 years ago) and wanted to share some perspective for anyone feeling anxious about the process. My first CDR took about 5 months total and resulted in continued benefits with no issues. This time around, I'm about 3 months in and just had my consultative exam last week. One thing I learned from my first experience is to treat the CE seriously - dress appropriately, arrive on time, and be honest about your limitations during the exam. The doctor asked me to do various movements and activities, and I made sure to explain when something caused pain or difficulty rather than just pushing through it. Also, I'd recommend requesting a copy of the CE report afterward (you can do this through your local SSA office). During my first CDR, I found an error in the report and was able to submit a correction, which I think helped my case. For anyone just starting the process - try not to panic. The vast majority of CDRs result in continued benefits, especially if your condition hasn't significantly improved. Focus on being thorough and accurate in your paperwork, and remember that they're looking at whether you can maintain substantial gainful activity, not whether you have some good days mixed in with the bad ones. Hang in there - the waiting is definitely stressful, but most of us get through it just fine!

I'm currently about 8 weeks into my CDR process and wanted to add my experience to this helpful thread. Got my initial notice in late January, completed all the disability report forms about 3 weeks ago, and now I'm in the waiting phase to see if they'll schedule a consultative exam. One thing I've found really helpful is keeping a detailed symptom log while going through this process - not just for the forms, but also to have concrete examples ready if they call with follow-up questions or if I need to appeal. I track things like how many hours I can concentrate, what household tasks I can/can't complete, sleep quality, and pain levels on a 1-10 scale. My local SSA field office told me that my state's DDS is currently running about 4-5 months for CDR decisions, which seems pretty consistent with what others have shared here. They also mentioned that if they need a CE, they typically schedule it around month 3-4 of the process. For anyone just starting - definitely echo what others have said about being thorough on those forms. I probably spent 2-3 hours on each section really thinking through how to accurately describe my functional limitations. The waiting is nerve-wracking, but reading everyone's experiences here has really helped manage my anxiety about it. Thanks to everyone who's shared their timelines and advice!