Any action which is not an initial determination can be changed at any time and is not protected by the rules of administrative finality.

Since the failure to make a determination with respect to any claim or post-entitlement issue is not an initial determination, whenever such failure comes to the attention of SSA, an adjudication of the claim or PE issue is in order.

Where a change occurs in the factual situation on which a determination was made, we may always make a new determination effective with the date of the change in the factual situation. This is so regardless of the time that elapses from the original determination before we are made aware of the change in facts.

In connection with an award or denial, we may make various findings of fact (e.g., date of birth or entitlement, amount of earnings, computation of benefit amount, etc.). All of those findings are merged into the initial determination of award or denial. Where a condition for reopening one of these findings is met, it opens up the entire initial determination, not just that one finding.

SSA makes initial determinations of entitlement to and termination of benefits. The fact that we previously determined that a claimant met the requirements for entitlement does not preclude us from making another determination that they meet the requirements for termination at some subsequent date.