How to Reinstate Your Disability Benefits with Social Security in 2025
If your Social Security Disability benefits ended due to work-related reasons, you may be able to have them reinstated. However, if your benefits stopped because you recovered from a disability—through surgery, medical improvements, or therapy—you must meet the criteria for a new qualifying disability to receive benefits again.
Why Do Disability Benefits End?
Some recipients lose their monthly Disability payments after earning income above the allowable limits for an extended period. In certain cases, it is possible to restart these benefits if your circumstances change and you need assistance again.
Reinstating Disability Benefits Within 5 Years
If your Disability benefits ended less than five years ago, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers an expedited reinstatement process. Here’s how it works:
- Contact the SSA
- Call the Social Security Administration to request expedited reinstatement of your Disability benefits.
- Inform the representative of your situation and your desire to apply for reinstatement.
- Answer Questions
- You will need to provide answers to some questions about your case. However, you will not need to file a new application for Disability benefits.
- Temporary Payments
- While the SSA reviews your request, you may receive provisional Disability benefits for up to six months.
Also Read – The New Major Changes to Social Security: What You Need to Know
SSA Contact Information
To request expedited reinstatement, you can contact the SSA using the following phone numbers:
- TTY Users (Deaf or Hard of Hearing): +1 800-325-0778
- General Assistance: +1 800-772-1213
The SSA is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. If English is not your first language, interpreters for other languages are also available.
What Happens After 5 Years?
If more than five years have passed since your Disability benefits ended, you must submit a new application. Similarly, if your benefits stopped for reasons unrelated to work, you will need to file a new application to requalify for monthly payments under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
Learn More
For detailed information, visit the SSA’s official website: SSA Disability Restart.