DDS-Disability Determination Services
Most Social Security disability claims are initially processed through a network of local Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices and State agencies (usually called Disability Determination Services or DDSs). The field office is responsible for verifying non-medical eligibility requirements, which may include age, employment, marital status, or Social Security coverage information. The field office then sends the case to a DDS for evaluation of disability. Disability Determination Services (DDS) is a State agency responsible for developing medical evidence and making the initial medical disability determination on whether a claimant is disabled or blind under Social Security law. The agency and its offices are fully funded by the federal government. DDS usually tries to obtain medical evidence from the claimant’s own medical sources first. If that evidence is unavailable or insufficient to make a determination, the DDS will arrange for a consultative examination (CE) to...