A title II claimant may be entitled to a closed period freeze. This disability freeze
protects the claimant from the loss of future retirement or disability benefits that
would otherwise disregard the period of disability. For more on developing a title
II disability freeze, see DI 26001.010.
Consider a closed period freeze only if the claimant filed the application more than
14 months after, but within 36 months of, the month disability ceased; and
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•
the claimant’s physical condition limited his or her activities to such an extent
the claimant could not complete and sign an application; or
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the claimant was mentally incompetent.