| Overview |
Most Social Security disability claims are initially processed through your local Social Security office and State agencies, called Disability Determination Services or DDS. Subsequent appeals of unfavorable determinations may be decided by DDS or by an administrative law judge in SSA's Office of Adjudication and Review..
Disabled persons can file applications for disability benefits in person, by telephone, or by filing
online. The application and related forms ask for a description of the claimant's impairments, treatment sources, and other information that relates to the alleged disability.
The local SSA office is responsible for verifying non-medical eligibility requirements, which may include age, employment history, marital status, or Social Security coverage information. The local office then sends the case to DDS for evaluation of disability.
DDS, which is fully funded by the Federal Government, is the State agency responsible for developing medical evidence and making the initial determination on whether or not a claimant is disabled or blind under the law.
Usually, DDS tries to obtain evidence form the claimant's own medical sources first. If that evidence is unavailable or insufficient to make a determination, the DDS will arrange for a consultative examination (CE) to obtain the additional information needed. The claimant's treating source is the preferred source for the CE, but the DDS may obtain the CE from an independent source. After completing its development of the evidence, trained staff at the DDS makes the initial disability determination.
Then, DDS returns the case to the local SSA office for appropriate action. If DDS found that the claimant is disabled, SSA completes any outstanding non-disability development, computes the benefit amount, and begins paying benefits. If the claimant was found not to be disabled, a letter is sent to the claimant explaining they have been denied and the file is kept in the local office in case the claimant decides to appeal the determination.
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