Division of Disability Determination
Unit 7D – Homeless and Special Project Unit
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Social Security benefits for workers (SSDI)
Social Security benefits for adults disabled
since childhood (CDB)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for
children and adults
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DDS Case Control Department receipts the
claim in and notes any special flags.
7D Homeless / Special Project Supervisor
monitors the queues
Claim is assigned to an adjudicator in the
homeless unit
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The adjudicator sends requests for medical
evidence of record (MER) to the relevant
sources of information listed on the
application.
May determine a consultative examination is
needed.
The adjudicative team (adjudicators, medical
consultants and disability program
specialists) analyzes all available evidence
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The adjudicative team determines if the
claimant has severe and marked limitations
that meet SSA disability guidelines or that
prevent all work related activities (using
Sequential Evaluation).
Final decision
◦ Claim typically returned to Field Office and claimant
notified of the decision.
◦ Claim can be randomly chosen for review by SSA’s
quality assurance department. If they disagree with
the DDS’s decision they will return the claim for
additional actions.
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QDD (Quick Disability Determination) & CAL
(Compassionate Allowances) are processed in our
Fast Track Unit. Claims are screened in at the Field
Office using software that searches for key words
Wounded Warrior/Military Casualty claims—any
claimant that has served in the military from 2001current. Processed in Fast Track and
Homeless/Special Project Units Unit
◦ http://www.ssa.gov/woundedwarriors/
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Fast Track Claims—Screened internally as claims that
appear to be a quick allowance
Homeless/Pre-Release/Special Projects Initiative—
these claims are handled by one dedicated unit
consisting of nine adjudicators
The inability to engage in Substantial Gainful Activity
(i.e. work), due to a Medically Determinable
Impairment (mental and/or physical), that is
expected to or has lasted 12 full months or is
expected to result in death.
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Is the claimant engaging in Substantial
Gainful Activity (SGA)?
Does the claimant have a severe impairment?
Does the impairment meet or equal the
listings?
◦ If no, determine the claimant’s residual functioning
capacity (Physical – RFC) and (Psychological – MRFC)
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Does the impairment prevent past work?
Does the impairment prevent other work?
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1.00 Musculoskeletal
2.00 Special
senses/speech
3.00 Respiratory
4.00 Cardiovascular
5.00 Digestive
6.00 Genitourinary
7.00 Hematological
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8.00 Skin
9.00 Endocrine
10.00 Multiple
systems
11.00 Neurological
13.00 Neoplastic
14.00 Immune
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12.02 Organic Mental Disorders
12.03 Schizophrenia, other Psychotic
Disorders
12.04 Affective Disorders
12.05 Intellectual Disability
12.06 Anxiety Related Disorders
12.07 Somatoform Disorders
12.08 Personality Disorders
12.09 Substance Addiction Disorders
12.10 Autism and other PDD
Website for listings:
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/
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Completing questions from DDD or sending
medical records
Giving descriptive information about
functioning and response to treatment
While only certain treating sources are
considered acceptable medical sources for
decision-making, all medical information is
extremely valuable to the claim
Psychiatrists
Doctors (MD/DO)
Licensed Clinical Psychologists
School Psychologists for Intellectual Disabilities
and Other Learning Disorders
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MH Counselors/Therapists
Hospitals/Clinics
Rehabilitation Centers
Schools
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Dates of treatment
Diagnosis and capability statement
Testing/Imagery results
Operative/Pathology reports
Office notes
Mental Status Exams
IP/ER records
Any available psychological testing
Description of functional limitations due to
symptoms
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Attend a consultative examination
Contact sources for assistance in obtaining
records
Forms
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ADL
Work History
Symptoms
827 (Medical Release)
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Why?
◦ Exams are ordered when there is not enough
information in file or the information in file is not
sufficient to make a decision. Exams are only ordered
after all time relevant records are requested, followed up
on and all other avenues of obtaining the necessary
information are exhausted.
 Sources never responded
 Medical records are not current (typically within the past 3-6
months) Possible exception would be a condition that would
improve with time (e.g. ALS)
 No information/evidence from an acceptable medical source
 Conflicting information in file
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What?
◦ We purchase one time evaluations from
psychologists, cardiologists, neurologists, medical
doctors, x-rays, labs, and special studies.
◦ The doctor/facility provides a report on the
evaluation.
◦ These doctors and facilities are located in areas
throughout Ohio.
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When?
◦ Requests for these exams are entered into our case
processing system.
◦ The agency’s scheduling department processes
these requests and schedules the exams as close to
the claimant as possible depending on the
availability of that particular specialty in an area.
◦ Typically will schedule at least 10 days and not
more than 30 days in the future.
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Special Requests
◦ Please let the adjudicator know of any special
requests or time limitations when they ask if the
claimant is willing to attend an exam.
 Please keep in mind that special requests and
limitations in availability may delay the scheduling of
the CE, may increase the distance of the exam from
the claimant and may not be able to be accommodated
at all depending on the area and consultant
availability.
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Responsibilities of the representative and/or
claimant:
◦ Must provide own transportation
◦ Must confirm via telephone that they will attend the
appointment when they receive the exam notice
 If no telephone contact, the adjudicator is required to
call the representative and/or claimant
 If there is no response to the telephone calls,
adjudicator is required to send a call in letter to the
claimant and/or representatives
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Complaints
◦ Report any issues or problems with the exam to the
adjudicator as soon as possible (either by phone or
letter)
◦ All complaints are taken very seriously and are
investigated by our Professional Relations Officers
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This form is extremely important in the
process and is used primarily at step 4 and 5
of Sequential Evaluation.
◦ The evidence in file shows there is a severe impairment. The
impariment is causing limitations but not of listing level severity.
Despite those limitations, the claimant has other abilities that may
be used in a work environment.
 Step 4 – With these remaining abilities can the claimant perform
their past work as they described it or as it is done in the
national economy? If yes, denial. If no, go on to step 5.
 Step 5 – given their remaining abilities, their past work
experience, their age and education level – can they perform
other work?
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To clearly and completely evaluate the claim
at step 4 and 5 the adjudicator must have a
detailed work history report for the claimant
This is important for all claims but especially
for individuals 50 and older
 Why? - Because the rules guiding a finding of disability change as a
person ages.
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What does a not so detailed work history
report look like?
◦ Contains inconsistencies
◦ Very brief with no details
◦ Left blank, “I don’t know” answers, question
marks
◦ Vague descriptions
◦ Jobs listed in the remarks section
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What does a detailed work history report look
like?
◦ Contains no inconsistencies
◦ Is very detailed, contains dates
◦ No blanks, no “I don’t know” answers, no question
marks
◦ Clear, detailed descriptions of the job and job
duties, type of business
◦ Additional job listed on extra sheets (i.e. not listed
in remarks section)
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Please be sure to include all allegations on
the claimant’s application. The allegations on
the summary page should be the same as the
allegations on the application.
Please pay attention to the date the claimant
alleged disability began when supplying
records.
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A diagnosis does not equal disability. We are a
function based program and it is the severe
limitations in functioning that lead to a finding of
disability.
◦ Example: diabetes, controlled with medication
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Prior allowances – just because a claimant was
allowed in the past does not necessarily mean
s/he will be allowed again. Many factors could
change the outcome.
◦ Examples: change in listings, change in age, severity of
the condition and its limitations in functioning have
changed, technical denials
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Look for the unit 7D on the representative bar
code that is sent
Use list to identify the adjudicator who is
working on the claim
◦ Is it a Homeless/Special Project Adjudicator?
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Liz McNany, Unit Supervisor
 code: EAM211, phone: 614-438-1941
Todd Gould, Claims Adjudicator 3
 code: TJG896, phone: 614-438-1353
Shannon Hopp, Claims Adjudicator 3
 code: SLH235, phone: 614-438-1629
Jennifer Koppelman, Claims Adjudicator 3
 code: JAK536, phone: 614-438-1883
Jamie Labuda, Claims Adjudicator 3
 code: JLR626, phone: 614-438-1852
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Debra Lorenz, Claims Adjudicator 2
 code: DDL284, phone: 614-438-1231
Jennifer Nelson, Claims Adjudicator 3
 code: JRE836, phone: 614-438-1573
Mary Vitek, Claims Adjudicator 2
 code: MAV370, phone: 614-433-8286
Erin White, Claims Adjudicator 3
 code: ENW033, phone: 614-438-1824
Dave Wolfe, Claims Adjudicator 3
 code: DLW745, phone: 614-438-1364
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OBB
COHHIO
ODMH
ODRC – Pre-Release Claims
Wounded Warriors (if homeless or
represented by a partnership)
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Resources for Third Parties
http://www.ssa.gov/thirdparties.htm
Social Security Disability
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability
We sincerely enjoy working with all of you!
The service you provide to the citizens of Ohio
is invaluable and we appreciate you.