social security disability criteria

How does Social Security Evaluate Disability Claims?

The Disability Evaluation that is under Social Security has been put together for doctors and other medical professionals in order for them to understand how the disability program works. This goes into detail about the program itself and other information a medical professional might need to know prior to their patient applying. This can also help them make a clear decision if applying for social security benefits is worth the time and effort.

 

In the Disability Evaluation, there is a list of impairments that help those who are looking to apply. They can find their disability in the booklet and that will be a determinate that they should move forward in their application. The listing is how Social Security will determine if someone is disable as well as their past work, age, and severity of the disability.

 

Disability Verification Process

A representative from the Social Security Administration office will be reviewing your application and claim to receive disability benefits. If you do get denied, you may appeal and your application will be reviewed again by Disability Determination Services — DDS — or a judge in the Social Security Administration office. Representatives in the Social Security office receive the applications for those wanting to receive benefits in person, email, or phone.

 

From receiving the applications, the office will then verify some information about the candidate. This includes the claimants age, marital status, employment, and SS coverage details. The case will then be sent to DDS to be evaluated for the disability benefits. DDS are those who are responsible for looking for medical evidence to determine if the claimant is disabled or not.

 

It is highly recommended to already have all of your medical evidence compiled before submitting your application to Social Security. If this isn’t the case, DDS will arrange for an examination from a doctor from Social Security to get any additional details that they need. Generally, your doctor is the source DDS would like to use, but they can receive this information from independent sources as well. Once the evidence has been compiled, DDS will make the first disability acceptance or denial.

 

DDS will turn the case over to the field office so they can take proper action. If the claimant is found to be disabled, Social Security Administration will finish up the process which includes the amount they will receive in benefits and payments will begin. Though, if the claimant is not found disabled, the file is still kept until the claimant wants to appeal the decision.