{"id":343260,"date":"2026-03-13T00:16:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T00:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/343260\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T00:16:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T00:16:10","slug":"social-security-announces-big-change-impacting-millions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/343260\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Security Announces Big Change Impacting Millions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Social Security Administration <\/a>announced a major operational shift on Thursday that will fundamentally change how disability benefit reviews<\/a> are handled nationwide.<\/p>\n

The agency said this move will improve accountability and speed up decisions for millions of Americans receiving or applying for benefits.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy centralizing medical continuing disability reviews under Social Security, we are taking another important step towards operational excellence, reducing improper payments,<\/a> and providing best-in-class service to Americans in critical need of support,\u201d SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Why It Matters<\/p>\n

This change affects millions of Americans who receive or apply for Social Security disability benefits because Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) are required to determine whether someone remains eligible for payments.<\/p>\n

For beneficiaries, the shift could mean more consistent decision\u2011making and clearer accountability, since all medical reviews will now be overseen directly by SSA rather than split between federal and state agencies.<\/p>\n

What To Know<\/p>\n

Under the change, SSA will bring medical CDRs fully in\u2011house, ending the long\u2011standing practice of having state Disability Determination Services (DDS) process those reviews on the agency\u2019s behalf. Instead, all medical CDRs will now be handled by SSA\u2019s federal Disability Case Review (DCR) operation.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Medical CDRs are periodic reviews required by law to determine whether individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits remain eligible. While non\u2011medical reviews have already been handled by SSA, medical CDRs were previously conducted by state DDS offices.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

By centralizing those reviews, SSA said it will assume \u201ccomplete ownership and accountability\u201d for all CDRs, placing them under direct federal oversight.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWith complete ownership and accountability of CDRs and the proven track record of our DCR, our state disability determination service partners will be able to focus on the adjudication of initial disability claims and reconsideration cases, provide eligible individuals with expedited access to benefits, and further reduce initial disability claims backlogs, which are already reaching historic lows,\u201d Bisignano said.<\/p>\n

The agency said the shift is also intended to ease pressure on state DDS offices, allowing them to focus more heavily on processing initial disability claims and reconsideration cases, which often involve lengthy wait times.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

According to SSA, the backlog of initial disability claims reached an all\u2011time high of more than 1.26 million pending cases in June 2024. As of February, that backlog had been reduced to 831,000 claims, a decline of more than 33 percent.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSSA is moving away from locally managed field offices toward a centralized national workload model,\u201d Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek. \u201cCases and appointments get routed broadly instead of being handled mainly by your local office. In theory, this should even out workloads, reduce bottlenecks, and create more appointment slots.\u201d<\/p>\n

What People Are Saying<\/p>\n

Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: \u201cThe underlying problem hasn\u2019t changed. Much of the backlog was created by staff attrition, and with additional DOGE cuts and reductions in force, the system remains stretched. For beneficiaries, that likely means more initial denials and a longer fight to receive benefits, even as the agency reports improved efficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: \u201cFor beneficiaries, the biggest impact is mostly behind the scenes. Disability reviews will still happen, but SSA says state offices should now have more room to speed up initial claims and reconsideration cases for people waiting on decisions. The key thing to know is that this does not end eligibility reviews, so people receiving benefits should still respond quickly to SSA notices and keep their medical and contact information current.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finance expert Michael Ryan told Newsweek: \u201cYour payment amount is not changing. But the way you get help is. More people pushed toward appointments instead of walk-ins. Cases routed to staff outside your local office. Longer wait times while the transition settles in.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Happens Next<\/p>\n

SSA said its Disability Case Review operation will now handle medical CDRs for the entire country, while maintaining partnerships with state agencies to ensure smoother processing of disability claims overall.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

But Ryan warned that friction could exist during the transition.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen an understaffed agency centralizes service, the long-term goal may be efficiency,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cIn the short term, a lot of people just experience it as confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center\u2014it’s not “both sides,” it’s sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.<\/p>\n

When you become a Newsweek Member<\/a>, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant.\u00a0Members enjoy:\u00a0Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations.\u00a0Help keep the center courageous. Join today.<\/a><\/p>\n

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