Who Determines if I am Eligible for Disability Benefits?

If you are in a situation where you are in need of filing for disability benefits, you may wonder who makes the decision on whether or not your claim is approved. The following information will be valuable to anyone who is planning on applying for disability benefits.

Decision Makers

Ultimately, the decision on whether or not your disability makes you eligible for benefits according to the rules set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not lie with just one single person. Your claim will be looked at by claims examiners and physicians who are employed by Disability Determining Services (DDS). People who work for the DDS are trained by the SSA. They are well-versed in the laws and regulations that must be followed, so they know exactly what to look for when making the final determination.

What About Your own Doctor?

It is important for you to see your own doctor who will make a determination about your condition. The doctor and claim examiner from the DDS will use your doctor’s information to help make their final determination. So, even though your doctor will not make the final decision, his or her opinion is integral in the decision making process. Since your doctor’s findings are crucial in the final decision, his or her findings must be backed up by clinical observations, test results and other supporting evidence.

The Consultative Examiner’s Opinion

The consultative examiner is a doctor that the SSA assigns to examine you. During this examination, the consultative examiner will make a determination on your physical limitations and restrictions. This doctor does not make an official determination on your disability. But, the representatives from the DDS will review the report to confirm that the findings are supported by clinical observations or testing.

Although the final determination for you receiving disability benefits comes from the DDS, information from your doctor and the consultative examiner is crucial in the final determination. If you have questions regarding who decide whether or not you will get disability benefits, contact the London Disability Law Firm today.