What happens if my disabled child needs a progress evaluation?

It is not unusual for Social Security to request a progress evaluation for a child that is receiving disability benefits.  Progress evaluations are requested in situations where the child’s condition may improve. They are usually required every three years.  During the progress evaluation, you will be required to prove that your child is still disabled and that your child is receiving and has received medically necessary treatment. 

The evaluation process is a three-step approach.

• Has  there been medical improvement in the impairment(s) that was present at the time of the most recent favorable determination or decision.  The most recent favorable determination is called the comparison point determination.  (CPD)   If there has been no improvement the review process stops at that point. lf there has been improvement  social security goes to step two
• Social Security determines whether the CPD impairment(s) still meets or medically or functionally equals “the severity of the listed impairment” that it met or equaled at the time of the CPD.
• It the condition no longer meets or equals the listing Social Security makes a determination of disability based on the current condition.

You should also provide evidence of how any medication the child takes may impair the child’s ability to function or participate in school.  School records can be important if despite the medical impairment the child is or is not doing well in school, because of the impairment or lags behind.  Any factors used to prove the initial impairment should be used to determine the child’s current condition.