VCU-BARC

When Can People Request Expedited Reinstatement?

Social Security Disability Beneficiaries (SSDI/CDB/DWB)
In order for benefits to be expedited, the earlier record must have been terminated. That means that individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits must have worked through all of the work incentives. For SSDI, CDB, or DWB beneficiaries, that means they have used their Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility, and other work incentives, and have a terminated Social Security record. People who are in their Extended Period of Medicare Coverage, but who were terminated for cash benefits and are beyond their Extended Period of Eligibility, may also request Expedited Reinstatement.

Individuals who are still in their Extended Period of Eligibility don’t need to request EXR as they are NOT fully terminated from benefits. Just letting the SSA know there has been a drop in earnings may reinstate their benefits. Since these persons are being re-instated instead of re-applying, they don’t have to prove their disability again, unless it is time for a regularly scheduled CDR.

Supplemental Security Income Recipients (SSI)
In order to be eligible for Expedited Reinstatement, SSI recipients must have exhausted all of the SSI work incentives, including 1619(b). These individuals must have earned high wages long enough that the SSI record was stopped entirely. That means they didn’t receive SSI payments or Medicaid under 1619(b) within the 12 months prior to their reduction in earnings. Like Social Security Disability beneficiaries in their Extended Period of Eligibility, individuals who received SSI or 1619(b) within the prior 12 months don’t have to reapply or request EXR as they are not fully terminated from benefits. These persons only need to let the SSA know that their income has dropped in order to become reinstated.

Deadline for Request
There is an important deadline for Expedited Reinstatement. In order to receive Expedited Reinstatement benefits under any program, the request must be made within 60 months of when the prior benefit was terminated. Thus, if a person’s disability causes the reduction or cessation of work more than five years after the record is terminated, a new application for benefits must be filed.