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About the Division of Disability Determinations
The NYS Division of Disability Determinations (DDD) makes medical determinations on disability claims filed with the Social Security Administration's Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Disability programs. SSA’s Disability Insurance program is supported by payroll taxes. The SSI Disability program is supported by Federal general revenues, with an additional NYS Supplement amount.
While there are different financial supports for the disability programs, the medical factors considered are the same. The NYS-DDD has offices throughout the state, staffed by disability analysts, physicians, psychologists and other professional specialists.
When a person files a disability claim at the Social Security Administration offices for disability benefits, the medical part of the record file is sent to the NYS Division of Disability Determinations. At DDD, disability analysts and medical consultants review the file to determine if the evidence needed exists to support a disability claim. Analysts obtain medical evidence from claimant’s treating doctors and other medical sources.
At times, this medical information is unavailable or insufficient to make a determination. In those cases, the disability analyst/medical consultant schedules a further medical examination, which may include laboratory tests, called a consultative examination (CE). This additional information from the medical examination and other testing is used to assist the DDD analyst staff and medical consultants in making a determination of disability under the Federal SSA guidelines.
Under the SSDI disability program, there are approximately 393,000 persons (disabled workers, spouses, and children) receiving annual benefits of about $2.9 billion at an average monthly benefit of $627. Under the SSI disability program, approximately 456,000 disabled persons received an average monthly benefit of $445, totaling about $2.4 billion in annual payments.
Meeting these obligations to the disabled citizens of NYS has been achieved by introducing sophisticated technologies and support services. DDD has implemented an enhanced state-wide computer system dedicated to tracking each disability case, obtaining all available relevant medical information, and reaching the appropriate decision according to federal decision standards.
In addition, DDD has assisted claimants by offering their treating doctors better ways to provide medical information on their patients’ cases. DDD has improved its telephone dictation service, and established high-speed fax lines to hospitals. These achievements have resulted in more claims being processed, in a shorter waiting period.
In an effort to make more timely and accurate decisions, DDD has contracted with several provider groups to shorten the time between ordering a consultative examination and receipt of the medical report.
In cooperation with the SSA, a state-wide Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) site has been established at DDD regional offices. This IDL technology links federal and state disability services to ensure uniform and high-quality training. Training and research was also enhanced with the introduction of CD-ROM technology on local-area-network servers, to provide a technological desk-aid to DDD medical consultants and disability analysts researching medical issues.