Depending what the status of your Social Security disability claim is, contacting the correct Social Security office is important because if you contact the wrong one you may get incorrect information. Below is the list of different offices and their functions.
Social Security Field Offices
When an individual applies for disability benefits, whether online, in person, by telephone, or by mail, the application is initially processed at an SSA field office. The completed application and related forms provide information about the claimant’s impairment(s); names, addresses, and telephone numbers of medical 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 nonmedical eligibility requirements, which may include age, employment, marital status, citizenship and residency, and Social Security coverage information. For SSI eligibility, the field office verifies income, resources, and living arrangement information. The field office sends the case to a DDS for disability evaluation.
State Disability Determination Services
The DDSs are State agencies responsible for developing medical evidence and making the initial determination about whether the claimant is or is not disabled or blind under the law. These State agencies are fully funded by the Federal Government.
Usually, the DDS obtains evidence from the claimant’s own medical sources first. When the evidence is unavailable or insufficient to make a determination, the DDS may arrange a consultative examination (CE) to obtain additional evidence. The individual’s own medical source(s) is the preferred source for the CE; however, the DDS may also obtain the CE from an independent source. (See Part II, Evidentiary Requirements, for more information about CEs.)
After completing its development, the DDS makes the disability determination. An adjudicative team consisting of a medical or psychological consultant and a disability examiner usually makes the determination. If the adjudicative team finds that additional evidence is still needed, the consultant or examiner may re-contact a medical source and ask for additional information.
The DDS will refer the case to the State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency if the claimant is a candidate for VR. The DDS returns the case to the field office after making a disability determination. The field office takes appropriate action depending on whether the claim is allowed or denied. If the DDS finds the claimant to be disabled, SSA will complete any outstanding non-disability development, compute the benefit amount, and begin paying benefits. If the claimant is found to be not disabled, the file is retained in the field office in case he or she decides to appeal the determination. If the claimant appeals an initial determination, the appeal is usually handled much the same as the initial claim with the exception that a different adjudicative team in the DDS than the one that handled the original case makes the reconsideration determination.
Office of Hearing Operations
Claimants who are dissatisfied with the reconsideration determination may request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) in OHO. The claimant may submit additional information and evidence to the ALJ, and the ALJ will issue a decision based on all the evidence of record, including evidence obtained at the hearing.
When an ALJ needs additional evidence, the hearing office frequently coordinates with the DDS to obtain the evidence. However, hearing offices may also contact medical sources directly. In some circumstances, an ALJ may issue a subpoena requiring production of evidence or testimony at a hearing.
