The Social Security Administration will keep paying disability claims without in-person doctor visits for five more years

The Social Security Administration is extending a temporary rule that allows people to qualify for disability benefits without an in-person doctor's visit. This means people claiming musculoskeletal disorders can continue to use telehealth or other remote evaluations for their applications until May 2029.

Before the pandemic, the Social Security Administration required in-person doctor visits to evaluate many disability claims. This rule change means the agency will continue to accept remote evaluations for musculoskeletal disorders, which are a common reason for disability claims. It gives the agency more time to figure out how to handle these claims in a world where telehealth is more common.