Quick Disability Determinations QDD

by admin on September 3, 2010

Social Security is implementing sweeping changes to the way it processes Disability claims. One of these changes is Quick Disability Determinations. This is an automatic process where Social Security computers will identify certain types of disabilities for approval in 20 calendar days.

This is not something you can request when filing your disability claim, Social Security computers will screen your alleged disability along with your medical evidence to determine if your claim is eligible for 20 day approval automatically. Social Security is not publicizing this program to the general public. When you call Social Security’s toll-free number, the representatives will not volunteer information about the Quick Disability Determinations program, unless you ask.

To find out if your claim is being processed under Quick Disability Determinations 20 day approval, call Social Security’s toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and ask about QDD.

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Disability Benefits Denied The First Time?

by admin on August 31, 2010

You might hear people say “Social Security automatically denies your disability claim the first time you apply.” This is simply not true. When you submit your Disability claim in the Social Security office, your Social Security representative will spend about thirty days putting your application together. After the file is complete, your case is transferred to your State’s Disability Determination Agency. Social Security is not involved in the process of approving your initial Disability claim.Disability Benefits

Once the State agency, Disability Determination Services (DDS), has your claim the examiner will typically take 120 days to make a decision on your case. This 120 day timeframe is an average, and DDS examiners do not have set time limits for processing your claim. If the State schedules an appointment for you to see a doctor your case could take longer than the 120 day timeframe. The examiners that work for the State agency are not doctors. They have criteria for evaluating the medical evidence you have submitted to decide if your disability qualifies you for approval. If they do not have sufficient medical evidence to support your disability the examiner will deny your claim.

If you have seen a doctor after filing your application and need to submit new evidence for your claim, you should contact the examiner at the State agency. A Social Security representative can look this person up for you and give you their contact information. To find out how to contact your examiner at the State agency, contact Social Security at their toll-free number.

When dealing with the State, remember it pays to be polite. You don’t want to alienate the examiner working on your claim. While this individual’s personal opinion of you should have no bearing on the approval of your claim, you will find cooperation and courtesy go hand in hand.

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Disability Attorneys and Representatives

August 28, 2010

If you are applying for Social Security disability you can choose to have someone represent you. This person could be a disability representative or an attorney. Keep in mind that most disability representatives are not attorneys; they did not attend law school and you should carefully scrutinize their qualifications to represent you.
Social Security [...]

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Working on Social Security Disability

August 25, 2010

If you are receiving Social Security Disability benefits, (Not SSI) you can work as long as your pre-tax earnings stay below the prescribed limits. (If you receive SSI benefits the rules are different for you; refer to our section on working while receiving SSI payments.) This means you can work and supplement your [...]

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Social Security Disabled Widow Benefits

August 22, 2010

If you are a disabled widow age 50 or older you may be able to receive benefits off your spouse’s (or former spouse’s) Social Security record. If your spouse or former spouse has recently passed away you should notify Social Security as soon as possible. Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
If you are [...]

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Filing an Appeal for Social Security

August 19, 2010

If Social Security denied your claim or stopped your benefits for any reason you have the right to file an appeal. What type of appeal you file depends on where you are in the appeals process and what State you are living in.
The appeal process for Social Security is relatively straightforward. The process [...]

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