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 “staging,” DDS assigned a disability adjudicator on September 3, 2024. It has been awaiting a determination since.
All forms were promptly completed. Medical records were promptly ordered and received by DDS, and we supplied some older medical records. A physical consultative exam was scheduled; that delayed the claim by 10 weeks, due to scheduling lead time and then waiting for the CE report. Since then, the claim has been in the queue waiting or medical review for over two months and counting.
4/25/2025 Update: At the national NOSSCR conference, it was noted that there is a Social Security regulation that sets targets for DDS review times for initial disability claims. The processing target level for state agency review of initial Title II disability claims is 37 days. See 20 C.F.R. 404.1642(b)(1).
4/30/2025 Update: An initial determination has been made.