I have a client with a claim for disability benefits that has been pending at the initial level of review for over 365 days. That is just too long.
This client applied online with me in my office, on April 10, 2024. The claim was sent to DDS on June 7th. After 3 months in…
Here in Maine and New Hampshire, where I attend Social Security disability hearings with administrative law judges, the hearing offices have caught up. Hearings are being scheduled promptly, with 75+ days notice, after the hearing request is processed. Many years ago, when I started handling these cases, the hearing offices had a large backlog of…
For many years I have written briefs for judges prior to hearings on disability claims. Since I have started writing short briefs for disability examiners at the initial or reconsideration level, I have won many more cases at the DDS levels of review.
I write short, one or two-page letters to the disability examiners, setting…
I have started writing short, one-page letters to the disability examiners at the initial or reconsideration level, setting forth my theory of the case. The letter briefly describes the claimants limitations, and then makes the vocational analysis based upon the claimant’s work history. For many years I have written detailed briefs for judges at the…
Reconsideration is the next step in the Social Security disability adjudication process for those who are initially denied after applying for disability. As the waterfall chart shows, obtaining disability benefits at Reconsideration is the exception, rather than the rule.
I have written before about winning at Reconsideration. That earlier post discusses additional medical evidence…
There is an organization within Social Security called the Quality Review Board, also known internally as the Disability Quality Branch (DQB). The DQB samples initial and reconsideration determinations from state DDS agencies to ensure that Social Security’s disability rules and regulations are being interpreted and implemented properly by the various state DDS agencies – a…
The staff at the Maine DDS office has been furloughed due to the federal government shutdown. The Portland Press Herald has the story.
DDS is the state agency that makes Social Security disability determinations at the initial and reconsideration levels of administrative review. Although DDS workers are technically state workers, the federal government reimburses…
I have written before about the backlog at the Maine Disability Determination Services, particularly at Reconsideration, since initial claims are given priority. Now, some Reconsideration claims are being routed to the Vermont DDS to help ease the work load.
These claims, if denied again at Reconsideration and appealed, will have hearings in Maine. But the…
I am always intrigued by the differing DDS allowance rates among the several states. Take a look at the SSA's table showing 2012 allowance rates by nation, region and state (link opens 3-page PDF).
Is your state above or below the national average? And has the rate changed since last year? Check out the 2011…
Here is the latest compilation of DDS Initial and Reconsideration Allowance Rates by Nation, Region and State (link opens 3-page PDF chart). The data is from FY 2011, and was published in the July 2012 Social Security Forum, a newsletter for NOSSCR members.
I am always intrigued by varying allowance rates among regions of…
