§ 425. Additional rules relating to benefits based on disability

§ 425. Additional rules relating to benefits based on disability

(a) Suspension of benefits If the Commissioner of Social Security, on the basis of information obtained by or submitted to the Commissioner, believes that an individual entitled to benefits under section 423 of this title, or that a child who has attained the age of eighteen and is entitled to benefits under section 402(d) of this title, or that a widow or surviving divorced wife who has not attained age 60 and is entitled to benefits under section 402(e) of this title, or that a widower or surviving divorced husband who has not attained age 60 and is entitled to benefits under section 402(f) of this title, may have ceased to be under a disability, the Commissioner of Social Security may suspend the payment of benefits under such section 402(d), 402(e), 402(f), or 423 of this title until it is determined (as provided in section 421 of this title) whether or not such individual’s disability has ceased or until the Commissioner of Social Security believes that such disability has not ceased. In the case of any individual whose disability is subject to determination under an agreement with a State under section 421(b) of this title, the Commissioner of Social Security shall promptly notify the appropriate State of the Commissioner’s action under this subsection and shall request a prompt determination of whether such individual’s disability has ceased. For purposes of this subsection, the term “disability” has the meaning assigned to such term in section 423(d) of this title. Whenever the benefits of an individual entitled to a disability insurance benefit are suspended for any month, the benefits of any individual entitled thereto under subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section 402 of this title, on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such individual, shall be suspended for such month. The first sentence of this subsection shall not apply to any child entitled to benefits under section 402(d) of this title, if he has attained the age of 18 but has not attained the age of 22, for any month during which he is a full-time student (as defined and determined under section 402(d) of this title).

(b) Continued payments during rehabilitation program Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, payment to an individual of benefits based on disability (as described in the first sentence of subsection (a)) shall not be terminated or suspended because the physical or mental impairment, on which the individual’s entitlement to such benefits is based, has or may have ceased, if—

(1) such individual is participating in a program consisting of the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program under section 1320b–19 of this title or another program of vocational rehabilitation services, employment services, or other support services approved by the Commissioner of Social Security, and

(2) the Commissioner of Social Security determines that the completion of such program, or its continuation for a specified period of time, will increase the likelihood that such individual may (following his participation in such program) be permanently removed from the disability benefit rolls.

(c) Access to information held by payroll data providers

(1) The Commissioner of Social Security may require each individual who applies for or is entitled to monthly insurance benefits under subsections (d)(1)(B)(ii), (d)(6)(A)(ii), (d)(6)(B), (e)(1)(B)(ii), and (f)(1)(B)(ii) of section 402 of this title and subsection (a)(1) of section 423 of this title to provide authorization by the individual for the Commissioner to obtain from any payroll data provider (as defined in section 1320e–3(c)(1) of this title) any record held by the payroll data provider with respect to the individual whenever the Commissioner determines the record is needed in connection with a determination of initial or ongoing entitlement to such benefits.

(2) An authorization provided by an individual under this subsection shall remain effective until the earliest of—

(A) the rendering of a final adverse decision on the individual’s application or entitlement to benefits under this subchapter;

(B) the termination of the individual’s entitlement to benefits under this subchapter; or

(C) the express revocation by the individual of the authorization, in a written notification to the Commissioner.

(3) The Commissioner of Social Security is not required to furnish any authorization obtained pursuant to this subsection to the payroll data provider.

(4) The Commissioner shall inform any person who provides authorization pursuant to this clause of the duration and scope of the authorization.

(5) If an individual who applies for or is entitled to benefits under this subchapter refuses to provide, or revokes, any authorization under this subsection, subsection (d) shall not apply to such individual beginning with the first day of the first month in which he or she refuses or revokes such authorization.

(d) Reporting responsibilities for beneficiaries subject to information exchange with payroll data provider An individual who has authorized the Commissioner of Social Security to obtain records from a payroll data provider under subsection (c) shall not be subject to a penalty under section 1320a–8a of this title for any omission or error with respect to such individual’s wages as reported by the payroll data provider.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title II, § 225, as added Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 836, title I, § 103(a), 70 Stat. 817; amended Pub. L. 85–840, title II, § 205(o), Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 1025; Pub. L. 89–97, title III, § 306(c)(15), July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 373; Pub. L. 90–248, title I, §§ 104(d)(5), 158(c)(9), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 833, 869; Pub. L. 92–603, title I, § 107(b)(5), Oct. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 1343; Pub. L. 96–265, title III, § 301(a), June 9, 1980, 94 Stat. 449; Pub. L. 98–21, title III, § 309(p), Apr. 20, 1983, 97 Stat. 117; Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5113(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–273; Pub. L. 103–296, title I, § 107(a)(4), title II, § 201(a)(3)(A), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1478, 1494; Pub. L. 104–121, title I, § 105(a)(4), Mar. 29, 1996, 110 Stat. 853; Pub. L. 106–170, title I, § 101(b)(1)(D), Dec. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 1873; Pub. L. 114–74, title VIII, § 824(b)(1), (c)(1), Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 608, 609.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–74, § 824(b)(1), added subsec. (c).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–74, § 824(c)(1), added subsec. (d).

1999—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 106–170 substituted “a program consisting of the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program under section 1320b–19 of this title or another program of vocational rehabilitation services, employment services, or other support services” for “a program of vocational rehabilitation services”.

1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–121 struck out subsec. (c) which related to nonpayment or termination of benefits where entitlement involved alcoholism or drug addiction.

1994—Pub. L. 103–296, § 201(a)(3)(A)(i), amended section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–296, § 201(a)(3)(A)(i), inserted heading.

Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary” wherever appearing, “to the Commissioner” for “to him”, and “the Commissioner’s” for “his”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–296, § 201(a)(3)(A)(ii), inserted heading.

Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary” in pars. (1) and (2).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–296, § 201(a)(3)(A)(iii), added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), in subsec. (c) as added by Pub. L. 103–296, § 201(a)(3)(A)(iii), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary” wherever appearing and “Commissioner’s” for “Secretary’s” wherever appearing.

1990—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–508, § 5113(a)(1), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “such individual is participating in an approved vocational rehabilitation program under a State plan approved under title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and”.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 101–508, § 5113(a)(2), substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner of Social Security”.

1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–21 inserted “or surviving divorced husband” after “widower”.

1980—Pub. L. 96–265 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), made conforming amendments in subsec. (a) as so designated, and added subsec. (b).

1972—Pub. L. 92–603 substituted “age 60” for “age 62”.

1968—Pub. L. 90–248 in first sentence inserted “or that a widow or surviving divorced wife who has not attained age 60 and is entitled to benefits under section 402(e) of this title, or that a widower who has not attained age 62 and is entitled to benefits under section 402(f) of this title,” after “section 402(d) of this title,” and substituted “402(d), 402(e), 402(f), or 423” for “423 or 402(d)”, and substituted in third sentence reference to “423(d)” for “423(c)(2)”.

1965—Pub. L. 89–97 inserted “The first sentence of this section shall not apply to any child entitled to benefits under section 402(d) of this title, if he has attained the age of 18 but has not attained the age of 22, for any month during which he is a full-time student (as defined and determined under section 402(d) of this title).”

1958—Pub. L. 85–840 provided that whenever the benefits of an individual entitled to a disability insurance benefit are suspended for any month, the benefits of any individual entitled thereto under subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section 402 of this title, on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such individual, shall be suspended for such month.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–74, title VIII, § 824(e), Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 610, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting section 1320e–3 of this title and amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov 2, 2015].”

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–170 effective with the first month following one year after Dec. 17, 1999, subject to section 101(d) of Pub. L. 106–170, see section 101(c) of Pub. L. 106–170, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1320b–19 of this title.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–121 applicable to any individual who applies for, or whose claim is finally adjudicated with respect to, benefits under this subchapter based on disability on or after Mar. 29, 1996, with special rule for any individual who applied, and whose claim has been finally adjudicated, before Mar. 29, 1996, see section 105(a)(5) of Pub. L. 104–121, set out as a note under section 405 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment; Sunset Provision

Amendment by section 107(a)(4) of Pub. L. 103–296 effective Mar. 31, 1995, see section 110(a) of Pub. L. 103–296, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Pub. L. 103–296, title II, § 201(a)(3)(C), (E), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1497, provided that: “(C) Sunset of 36-month rule.—Section 225(c)(7) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 425(c)(7)] (added by subparagraph (A)) shall cease to be effective with respect to benefits for months after September 2004. “(E) Effective date.—“(i) In general.—Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the amendments made by this paragraph [amending this section and sections 426 and 426–1 of this title] shall apply with respect to benefits based on disability (as defined in section 225(c)(9) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 425(c)(9)], added by this section) which are otherwise payable in months beginning after 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 15, 1994]. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue regulations necessary to carry out the amendments made by this paragraph not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. “(ii) Referral and monitoring agencies.—Section 225(c)(5) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 425(c)(5)] (added by this subsection) shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. “(iii) Termination after 36 months.—Section 225(c)(7) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 425(c)(7)] (added by this subsection) shall apply with respect to benefits based on disability (as so defined) for months beginning after 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.”

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5113(c), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–273, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall be effective with respect to benefits payable for months after the eleventh month following the month in which this Act is enacted [November 1990] and shall apply only with respect to individuals whose blindness or disability has or may have ceased after such eleventh month.”

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–21 applicable only with respect to monthly payments payable under this subchapter for months after April 1983, see section 310 of Pub. L. 98–21, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–265, title III, § 301(c), June 9, 1980, 94 Stat. 450, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall become effective on the first day of the sixth month which begins after the date of the enactment of this Act [June 9, 1980], and shall apply with respect to individuals whose disability has not been determined to have ceased prior to such first day.”

Effective Date of 1972 Amendment