(a) General. If we determine that you do not meet the disability requirements of the law, your benefits generally will stop. We will send you a formal written notice telling you why we believe you are not disabled and when your benefits should stop. If your spouse and children are receiving benefits on your Social Security number, we will also stop their benefits and tell them why. The notices will explain your right to reconsideration if you disagree with our determination. However, your benefits may continue after November 1980 even though your impair-ment is no longer disabling, if your disability did not end before December 1980, and you are particpating in an appropriate vocational rehabilitation program as described in § 404.1596 which you began before your disability ended. In addition, we must have determined that your completion of the program, or your continuation in the program for a specified period of time, will significantly increase the likelihood that you will not have to return to the disability benefit rolls. You may still appeal our determination that you are not disabled even though your benefits are continuing because of your participation in an appropriate vocational rehabilitation program. You may also appeal a determination that your completion or of continuation for a specified period of time in an appropriate vocational rehabilitation program will not significantly increase the likelihood that you will not have to return to the disability benefit rolls and, therefore, you are not entitled to continue to receive benefits.

(b) If we make a determination that your physical or mental impair-ment(s) has ceased, did not exist, or is no longer disabling (Medical Cessation Determination). If we make a determination that the physical or mental impair-ment(s) on the basis of which benefits were payable has ceased, did not exist, or is no longer disabling (a medical cessation determination), your benefits will stop. As described in paragraph (a) of this section, you will receive a written notice explaining this determination and the month your benefits will stop. The written notice will also explain your right to appeal if you disagree with our determination and your right to request that your benefits and the benefits, if any, of your spouse or children, be continued under § 404.1597a. For the purpose of this section, benefits means disability cash payments and/or Medicare, if applicable. The continued benefit provisions of this section do not apply to an initial determination on an application for disability benefits, or to a determination that you were disabled only for a specified period of time.