ROLE OF THE DDS IN ALABAMA DISABILITY CLAIMS
When you apply for Social Security disability in Alabama your claim is first handled by your local Social Security field office. Once they have all the initial application forms, they send your claim to the Disability Determination Service (DDS) in Birmingham.
The DDS is a state agency that works under a contract with Social Security. The DDS will gather medical records and evaluate work history and job skills to determine whether the claimant meets Social Security's rules to be disabled.
The person who handles your claim at DDS is called a "disability specialist." This person typically handles about 80 cases at a time. The DDS process is fairly mechanical. Sometimes the claimant is sent to a doctor or psychologist for a consultative examination paid for by Social Security. These consultative exams are rarely helpful to the claimant, a fact we have discussed on a previous listing.
When the disability specialist at DDS has worked up the file, it is sent to a medical doctor employed or contracted by DDS, for his/her review. It takes 90 to 120 days for DDS to make a decision. After a decision is made, the file is returned to the Social Security office from where it came and Social Security sends out a letter to the claimant. In about 70 percent of cases, the claim is denied. Obviously, the claim must then be appealed. About half of the claims that are appealed are eventually won, most with back benefits.
Upon appeal, the case is transferred back to Social Security, to a special unit called the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR for short). The appeal process usually takes at least 12 months. A representative can be most helpful to a successful outcome.
The DDS is a state agency that works under a contract with Social Security. The DDS will gather medical records and evaluate work history and job skills to determine whether the claimant meets Social Security's rules to be disabled.
The person who handles your claim at DDS is called a "disability specialist." This person typically handles about 80 cases at a time. The DDS process is fairly mechanical. Sometimes the claimant is sent to a doctor or psychologist for a consultative examination paid for by Social Security. These consultative exams are rarely helpful to the claimant, a fact we have discussed on a previous listing.
When the disability specialist at DDS has worked up the file, it is sent to a medical doctor employed or contracted by DDS, for his/her review. It takes 90 to 120 days for DDS to make a decision. After a decision is made, the file is returned to the Social Security office from where it came and Social Security sends out a letter to the claimant. In about 70 percent of cases, the claim is denied. Obviously, the claim must then be appealed. About half of the claims that are appealed are eventually won, most with back benefits.
Upon appeal, the case is transferred back to Social Security, to a special unit called the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR for short). The appeal process usually takes at least 12 months. A representative can be most helpful to a successful outcome.
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