If the case is electronic:

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  Follow instructions in DI 11055.020, DI 81010.135, DI 81010.150 to create the document in the Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS).

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  If the document was completed on the Internet application, follow instructions in DI 81007.030, DI 81007.040, DI 81007.045 and DI 81007.050 to create the report and to follow-up with the claimant. DI 81007.045 contains instructions for completing the Child Disability Report, the i3820.

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  Annotate anything unusual in the “Remarks” section of the EDCS 3367.

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  If the claimant fails to file the necessary forms and the appeal can be processed in EDCS, follow the instructions in DI 81010.150E - Processing Claims Appeals of Medical Decisions in Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS).

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  If the paper SSA-3441 is received after the claim has been transferred to the DDS or HO, compare it to the EDCS 3441 and record any new or changed information using the Update After Transfer (UAT) function and destroy the paper form. See DI 81010.135. If the file contains a limited SSA-3441, scan the newly received SSA-3441 into the certified electronic folder (CEF) as instructed in DI 81010.150E.

If the case is an EDCS exclusion and is paper:

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  Record any changes of the claimant’s condition and symptoms (better or worse) since they filed the reconsideration disability report.

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  Review with the claimant the information on the SSA-3441 and complete the report. Obtain any incomplete or missing information.

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  Ask the claimant if he or she has filed for workers' compensation or other public disability benefit. If the claimant has filed, take appropriate action per DI 52140.001.

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  Prong file the SSA-3441 in the modular disability folder (MDF) in the section titled “Disability Related Development and Documentation” (blue) if the case is paper. If the case is electronic, key the SSA-3441 into EDCS.

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  See DI 11005.030, DI 11005.037, and DI 11005.040 for instructions on how to complete the Child Disability Report (SSA-3820).

NOTE: If the FO cannot obtain the necessary information to complete the SSA-3441 when the claimant files the hearing request, do not delay sending the hearing request to the hearing office (HO). Instead, complete the SSA-3441 as soon as possible and forward it directly to the HO for association or if the case is electronic, follow the instructions in DI 81010.150E - Processing Claims Appeals of Medical Decisions in Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS).

Suspend all actions not directly related to the hearing request unless the hearing office requests assistance. Do not initiate development. Assist the ALJ or the claimant as follows: If the claimant reports work activity since the last disability update (e.g., answers “yes” on item 6 of the SSA-3441), obtain the name and telephone number of the employer, beginning and ending dates of employment and notify the HO per DI 12010.005B.4. in this section.

Refer to GN 03103.130 for instructions regarding development requests from the ALJ. For electronic assistance requests from hearing offices, see DI 81010.100 (Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS) Actions Page).

Continue to defer development of non-medical issues until the ALJ issues a favorable medical decision. If non-medical ineligibility is discovered, or work activity is reported, notify the HO.

EXCEPTION: Ordinarily, the ALJ rules on issues formally considered by a lower adjudicatory level. Therefore, if a new non-medical ineligibility issue is discovered or completely developed after the HA-501-U5 and the claim has been forwarded to the HO, retain the development in the FO pending the outcome of the hearing. Take no action unless a favorable decision on the medical issue is received.

However, in a few cases, non-medical ineligibility, (e.g., excess resources) may be discovered when the HA-501-U5 and the claim folder(s) are being forwarded to the HO. In this instance, fax any development and an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) summarizing the new issue in the CEF for electronic cases or mail it to the HO for paper cases. The ALJ may choose to decide the new issue along with the medical issue, if the decision can be resolved quickly (usually within 90 days for non-medical issues), or address only the medical issue and refer resolution of the non-medical issue to the FO.