Applications for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits are processed by the staff at Disability Determination Services (DDS) offices in each state. The DDS staff is responsible for evaluating applications and making eligibility recommendations to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
What Are Urgent Case Rquests?
If an application arrives in the DDS office and is based on a diagnosis which appears on the SSA’s list of conditions that are presumed to qualify for SSD benefits, then the DDS staff will mark the application as an “Urgent Case Request”.
This qualifies the application for expedited processing and may even result in the payment of “temporary disability benefits”, which will give the applicant immediate financial assistance while their complete application is reviewed and potentially approved by the SSA for full disability benefits under the SSD program.
The Eligibility Worker who reviews the SSD application when it arrives at the DDS office makes the initial assignment of an urgent case request, but his or her decision to do so is typically dependent upon SSA regulations and the presence of appropriate documentation from the applicant’s doctor in the application.
What to Include in Your Urgent Case Rquests
To have your application marked as an urgent case request, your medical documentation must include records and statements that prove how severe your disability is and that delay in receipt of SSD benefits will cause a significant hardship for you or will compromise your overall well being.
Regulations That Affect the Decision
SSA regulations and procedures that affect the Eligibility Worker’s decision to mark a file as an urgent case request also include ensuring:
- The severity of your condition makes it crucial you receive assistance as soon as possible.
- Your condition truly meets the criteria for “presumptive disability” by matching a listed medical condition with the SSA’s list of presumed disabilities.
- You have limited income from employment and meet the SSD eligibility requires and limited income and assets and meet SSI eligibility, if applicable.
- Your medical condition has lasted, or is expected to last, a minimum of 12 months.
