How long will my benefits last? Can I lose them?

[zephercan]

I have a couple of questions regarding my SSI benefits that I receive because of my depression.
How long will my benefits last? Are they indefinite? Will there be a renewal process? Are there any guide lines I need to stay within?
I fired my therapist because he was absolutely useless if not destructive. I also stopped taking my antidepressants and got a dog/friend which turned out to be WAY more effective. Will those decisions effect my benefits?
Also if I make money online with googles adsence or my likes.com etc. can I jeopardize my benefits?
Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[zephercan]

I forgot to mention that I have been receiving benefits for about 7 months now. I am 45 years old.

No legal advise here, are you on ssi or ssdi? they both have limits on what you can make on a monthly basis, i would go the ssi webiste and look it up or contact them by phone, i do know though ssdi you can make about a 1000 a month and not have it effect you , but as mention before look or call up ssdi, or an attorney if you have one

[JayEm]

I have SSI, so I can speak somewhat to the process for that.

If they have not determined that you have a permanent disability, they will re-evaluate every year or two (this may vary depending on how long they expected your disability to continue when you were approved).

My first re-evaluation consisted basically of a phone call in which I confirmed where I was living, who I was living with, and that I still wasn't able to work. The second re-evaluation (about 9 months after moving to a new city, which might have made a difference in the process) involved filling out a packet of information similar to the one I filled out to apply the first time (with the details of how my illness affects my "activities of daily living"), going into their office for an appointment with a psychologist and a physician, and having them contact my therapist and (presumably) my medical doctors.

With the more recent re-evaluation, I know that my therapist told them that I no longer have a mental health disorder that would stop me from working, but that she believed my physical and cognitive issues were disabling. I don't know what my medical doctors said, since they never mentioned being contacted by Social Security.

Here's the page on how much you can earn while receiving SSI, and how it affects the amount you receive:
http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answ...JNU2haaw%3D%3D

And here's their page about reviewing your disability:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10068.html#a0=2

[Rich Feingold]

Hi, Zephercan and everyone. Zephercan, the benefits last until SSA has conducted a continuing disability review and has determined that there has been medical improvement sufficient for you to return to work. The other way for your benefits to be terminated is for your work earnings to exceed the allowable limits.

JayEm, you say, "If they have not determined that you have a permanent disability..." Actually, JayEm, that is not accurate because SS disability benefits do not distinguish between permanent vs. short-term disabilities, as do private disability carriers. The definition of disability pursuant to the Social Security Act requires that the inability to perform substantial gainful activity must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 consecutive months.

Rich