When you apply for Social Security disability benefits (SSDB), the case is sent to a state agency, usually called the "Disability Determination Service" or DDS. DDS is a state run agency operating under contract with the Social Security Administration. The role of the DDS is to gather all the relevant medical records, evaluate the work history and vocational skills of the claimant, and make an initial determination as to whether the claimant meets Social Security's rules for disability. The person who handles the claim at DDS is called a "disability specialist." After this specialist has worked up the file, he/she has it reviewed by a contracted, or sometimes employed, medical doctor. When a decision is made, the file is sent back to the local Social Security office from where it came and Social Security sends a determination letter to the claimant. About 70 percent of cases are denied at the DDS level (often referred to as "the state level"). ...
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