PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEMPart DI – Disability InsuranceChapter 280 – Continuing Disability Review CasesSubchapter 05 – The CDR Evaluation ProcessTransmittal No. 29, 03/20/2026
Audience
Originating Component
DP
Effective Date
Upon Receipt
Background
On March 23, 2026, SSA published SSR 26-1p, "Title XVI: Determining Continuing Disability at Step 2 and 3 of the Medical Improvement Review Standard Sequential Evaluation Process for Children Under Age 18 - Functional Equivalence." This SSR provides the process for determining continuing disability at steps 2 and 3 of the medical improvement review standard (MIRS) for children under age 18 who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under Title XVI of the Social Security Act and how to apply the functional equivalence rule at steps 2 and 3. Disability Policy is revising this POMS section summary chart to correspond with the SSR update.
Summary of Changes
DI 28005.025 Summary Chart of the Continuing Disability Review (CDR) Sequential Evaluation Process for Title XVI Child CDR Cases
We updated the POMS summary chart to implement the Child CDR Sequential Evaluation Process Summary Chart per SSR 26-1 guidance, which includes:
Removal of how to apply functional equivalence at step 2 when the Comparison Point Decision (CPD) was allowed on the basis of functionally equaling the listings; and
Removal of obsolete instructions on how to apply the functional equivalence rules for CPD issued before January 2, 2001
This chart outlines the CDR sequential evaluation process for Title XVI child CDR cases.
For detailed step-by-step instructions on the CDR sequential evaluation process for Title XVI child CDR cases, see DI 28005.030.
*Unless an exception applies. If a Group I exception DI 28020.250 or DI 28020.350 applies, proceed to Step 3. If a Group II exception DI 28020.900 applies, disability may cease.