How to inquire about the status of your Social Security Disability Claim

After filing the application and requirements to the Social Security office, it is forwarded to the state disability processing agency (also referred to as Disability Determination Services (DDS)) for further screening and medical decision.

Though the DDS has no specific time frame to process your claim; the Social Security implements a standard deadline to address your claim.

If you have not received any call, letter, or email from the personnel of Social Security disability administration for two months, you may personally inquire regarding the status of your disability claim.

There are reasons why you have not received any feedback. It can be that the decision regarding your claim has been made, but the letter has been lost and failed to reach you.

There are claims that are decided within thirty days; however, 45-60 days is a reasonable time to process your claim. You may also choose to call the SS toll free hotline at 1-800-772-1213.

You may also contact the state disability examiner who is handling your claim. You may inquire if additional medical records or documents are needed in assessing your claim. He or she is the one who can answer the progress of your application. Inquiring on the status of your claim obliges the disability examiner to look, follow-up, and speed up the process.

How significant medical records are?

Medical records are your evidence for your claim. It supports your application and verifies the information that you have stated in your application form. Without it, you and the disability examiner (DE) has no basis to pursue your claim. Your application will eventually be denied. The DE may ask you to undergo a consultative examination (CE).

Registered physicians of the state will administer series of medical exams to fill in missing medical requirements. If the tests results are enough to verify your claim, the decision may be made immediately.

The DDS office has a list of hospitals who submit late medical documents. You may check if your hospital is included in the list, if so you may personally follow up the needed requirements. You also need to inspect if the submitted documents comply with what the DDS is looking for.

Here are some questions that you may ask to the disability examiner:

1. What is the progress of my claim?
2. Are my medical records complete?
3. Which hospital/ physician/ medical staff has not yet submitted the medical records?

Initiate an effort to assist the DE in obtaining the requirements and documents to speed up the process. You may also consult with a professional social security disability attorney in Los Angeles to advice you on legal measures, if your claim is denied.