MINE and MINE- Equivalent - permanent impairment - refers to a beneficiary's extremely severe impairment that is not expected to improve. These cases involve an extremely severe condition determined, by our experience in administering the disability programs, as follows:

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  To be at least static or without change but more likely to be progressively disabling either by itself or by reason of impairment complications,

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  Unlikely to improve to permit the beneficiary or recipient to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA), or

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  If the recipient is a child, unlikely to improve to the point that they will no longer have marked and severe functional limitations.

Sections 221(i)(1) and 1614(a)(3)(H)(ii)(I) of the Social Security Act, as amended, require the Social Security Administration to review these cases on a schedule to be determined by the Commissioner. The review schedule for MINE or MINE-equivalent cases is established in the regulations as between 5 and 7 years.

A primary objective of the MINE or MINE-equivalent review procedure is to minimize inconvenience to the beneficiary or recipient by structuring the review in a manner that is sensitive to the beneficiary or recipient's concerns and needs. Since these impairments are considered irreversible, development is geared toward assuring that the original medical documentation was thorough and fully supports the MINE or MINE-equivalent impairment classification. Hence, we do not anticipate the need for extensive current medical development.

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  DI 13005.022 Field Office (FO) Overview of the Continuing Disability Review (CDR) Process for medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE) or MINE-Equivalent Cases

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  DI 26525.045 Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE) or MINE-Equivalent Criteria