TN 1 (08-11)

DI 29501.005 Administrative Law Judge Requests to Disability Determination Services for Medical Evidence from a Medical Source

When an administrative law judge (ALJ) believes that pertinent medical evidence may be available from a specific medical source (e.g., physician, hospital, clinic, institution), the ALJ may request the assistance of the disability determination services (DDS) in obtaining the evidence by completing form HA-4488 (Request for DDS Assistance in Obtaining Report(s)). The ALJ provides an SSA-827 (Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration (SSA)) with the HA-4488. The DDS follows the procedures in Development of Medical Evidence of Record (MER) DI 22505.000.

The DDS follows normal operating procedures in processing the development request. The DDS also takes the following actions:

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  Ask the source to provide the medical evidence per normal DDS business procedures.

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  When you submit the request for medical evidence to the source, send a copy to the ALJ (paper cases only).

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  Follow up, if needed, in accordance with normal DDS MER procedures.

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  Provide a copy of the follow-up letter or telephone contact to the ALJ (paper cases only).

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  If you receive an ALJ's request for development of medical evidence for a source that a field office (FO) has special arrangements for obtaining medical evidence, send the request to the FO with an SSA-883 (Request for Evidence or Assistance).

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  Send a copy of the SSA-883-U3 to the ALJ also (paper cases only).

See Details:

DI 81020.100 Electronic Assistance Requests