Disability Evaluation Under Social Security. Social Security representatives in the field offices usually obtain applications for disability benefits in person, by telephone, by mail, or by filing online. The application and related forms ask for a description of the claimant's impairment s , treatment sources, and other information that relates to the alleged disability.
The "claimant" is the person who is requesting disability benefits. The field office is responsible for verifying non-medical eligibility requirements, which may include age, employment, marital status, or Social Security coverage information.
The field office then sends the case to a DDS for evaluation of disability. The DDSs, which are fully funded by the Federal Government, are State agencies responsible for developing medical evidence and making the initial determination on whether or not a claimant is disabled or blind under the law.
Usually, the DDS tries to obtain evidence from 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. After completing its development of the evidence, trained staff at the DDS makes the initial disability determination.
Then, the DDS returns the case to the field office for appropriate action. If the DDS found that the claimant is disabled, SSA completes any outstanding non-disability development, computes the benefit amount, and begins paying benefits.
