New Guidance on Statutory Benefit Continuation

SSA updated its coronavirus website on November 6 to include new guidance for people whose
disability benefits were terminated because of a Continuing Disability Review determination or age-18
redetermination. Those who submitted requests for reconsideration of the termination but did not elect
statutory benefits consideration can now request that their benefits continue until there is a
determination on the appeal.

Even if the deadline for requesting statutory benefits continuation has passed, SSA will consider it “good
cause” for a late request if the beneficiary cites SSA’s pandemic-related “delays in processing certain
requests for reconsideration of initial disability cessation determinations (including age-18
redeterminations) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.” However, this reason for
finding good cause only applies when the notice of cessation is dated on or before August 30, and the
request for reconsideration of the cessation determination is still pending.