What happens to my claim after I apply?

Your application for Social Security Disability benefits is called your “Initial Application.” Now that you’ve applied and your Initial Application is filed, be prepared to wait about 4 weeks. Why so long? A few things are happening.

First, your application is forwarded from the federal government at the Social Security Administration to a state agency. This state agency is referred to as the “Disability Determination Services” or DDS, for short.

Your “case” will be assigned to an examiner. This is the person that will be looking over your medical records and determining whether you are disabled. There are medical staff at DDS that will review your medical records and, if they find that there is insufficient medical information to determine whether you are disabled, they may make a doctor’s appointment for you. This appointment is called a Consultative Examination.