Social Security Administration Brings Medical Continuing Disability Reviews In‑House.
Strategic decision offers greater federal accountability and relief for states to focus on faster disability claim adjudication
BALTIMORE, MD — The Social Security Administration (SSA) will begin handling all medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) in‑house, a shift federal officials say will strengthen oversight and allow states to focus on speeding up disability claim decisions.
The move transitions medical CDR processing away from State Disability Determination Services (DDS) and into SSA’s federal Disability Case Review (DCR) unit. CDRs are routine checks used to determine whether individuals receiving disability benefits remain eligible.
By bringing medical CDRs under direct federal control, SSA will now oversee both medical and non‑medical reviews.
“By centralizing medical continuing disability reviews under Social Security, we are taking another important step towards operational excellence, reducing improper payments, and providing best‑in‑class service to Americans in critical need of support,” said SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. He added that the change will allow state DDS offices to concentrate on initial disability claims and reconsiderations, helping eligible individuals access benefits more quickly.
State DDS offices have been working through historically high backlogs. In June 2024, more than 1.26 million initial disability claims were pending nationwide. Through process improvements and operational changes, that number has dropped by more than 33 percent, reaching 831,000 as of February 2026.
Federal officials say shifting medical CDRs to DCR will help continue that downward trend
DCR already processes initial disability claims, reconsideration cases, and medical CDRs. Under the new structure, it will take on all medical CDRs nationwide. DDS offices will focus on initial and reconsideration claims for residents in their states, while SSA field offices and processing centers will continue handling non‑medical CDRs.
SSA leaders say the change is designed to improve accuracy, reduce improper payments, and shorten wait times for people seeking disability benefits.
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