Effective Dates: 07/16/2025 - Present Previous | Next

TN 58 (07-25)

DI 22510.019 Consultative Examination (CE) Notice Follow up and Reminder

CITATIONS:

20 CFR 404.1512 through 404.1519t , and 416.912 through 416.919t

NOTE: These procedures are not required for a CE scheduled 10 calendar days or less before the date of the appointment. For information on a short notice CE, see DI 22510.016D.2.

A. CE communication procedures

For information on CE notice and confirmation procedures, see DI 22510.016.

For the CE confirmation call-in letters, see NL 00705.747 and NL 00705.748.

For information on special handling, see DI 23007.001A.

For who to contact when the claimant fails to confirm or attend a scheduled CE, see DI 23007.005.

For how to make a reasonable effort to identify and involve a third party when special handling applies, see DI 23007.010.

For whereabouts unknown situations, see DI 23005.001.

B. Claimant confirms the CE

When the claimant confirms by telephone that they will attend the CE scheduled for a specific location, date, and time:

  • •

    Document the date of the call and the content of your conversation on an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) or a Case Note in the Disability Case Processing Systems (DCPS), and "write to" the case development worksheet (CDW), and

  • •

    Make any required CE reminder per DI 22510.019D.5. in this subsection.

NOTE: When the claimant confirms the CE in writing, add the confirmation to the file. There is no need to document elsewhere.

C. Claimant states they will not attend the scheduled CE

When the claimant tells you they will not attend the scheduled CE, consider whether they have a good reason.

  • •

    When the claimant provides a good reason, reschedule the CE.

  • •

    When the claimant does not provide a good reason and special handling does not apply, cancel the CE and adjudicate the claim as explained in DI 23007.015.

  • •

    When the claimant does not provide a good reason and special handling applies, you must make a reasonable effort to identify and involve a third party prior to discontinuing efforts to secure evidence that requires claimant cooperation.

For information on a good reason not to attend a scheduled CE, see DI 23007.001B.

D. Claimant does not respond to the CE notice

When the claimant does not confirm the CE within 10 calendar days from the date of the CE notice, you must follow up to determine whether the claimant will attend the CE.

1. Special handling required

  1. a. 

    Make a reasonable effort to identify a third party to assist the claimant;

  2. b. 

    Attempt to contact a third party by telephone at the same time you follow up with the claimant;

  3. c. 

    If you are prompted to leave a voicemail message or a message with another party who answers the call, see DI 22505.014A.1.b.

  4. d. 

    When telephone contact with the third party is not possible, follow the instructions in DI 22510.019D.3.

For information on what to include in your conversation, message, or letter to the third party, see DI 22505.014A.

2. Telephone follow up to confirm CE attendance

  1. a. 

    When possible, attempt to contact the claimant by telephone.

  2. b. 

    If you reach the claimant:

    1. 1. 

      Ask them if they will attend the scheduled CE.

    2. 2. 

      Explain to them that if they do not attend the CE we will have to make a decision based on information available in their case.

    3. 3. 

      Tell them this means we may find them not disabled.

  3. c. 

    If the claimant says they will not attend the CE, follow the instructions in DI 22510.019C in this subsection.

  4. d. 

    If the claimant or the required contact(s) does not respond to your efforts to confirm the CE, you may cancel the CE and process the determination, per DI 23007.015.

  5. e. 

    Document the date, the content of your message, and with whom you left it, on an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) or a Case Note in DCPS, and "write to" the CDW.

3. Telephone contact not possible

When you attempt to reach the claimant by telephone and they do not answer, you may be prompted to leave a voicemail message or a message with another party who answers the call. For information on leaving a voicemail message or a message with someone who is not the intended call recipient, see DI 22505.014A.1.b.

When telephone contact is not possible (i.e., the claimant does not have a telephone or their telephone number is no longer in service), you must send the claimant a call-in letter (see DI 22505.014A.2).

If the claimant calls before the CE and confirms they will attend, provide them with the information in DI 22510.019D.2.b in this subsection. If the claimant says they will not attend, follow the instructions in DI 22510.019C in this subsection.

4. If you did not send the call in letter more than 10 days before the CE

  1. a. 

    Do not cancel the CE.

  2. b. 

    When the claimant does not attend the CE and does not respond to the call-in the letter within 10 calendar days, and special handling does not apply, process the determination using the instructions in DI 23007.015. You are not required to do additional follow ups per DI 22510.016D.

  3. c. 

    When the claimant does not attend the CE, but responds within 10 calendar days from the call in letter, consider whether they have a good reason for missing the CE.

    1. 1. 

      If the claimant provides a good reason to have missed the CE, reschedule it.

    2. 2. 

      If the claimant does not provide a good reason, and special handling does not apply, adjudicate the claim using the instructions in DI 23007.015.

    3. 3. 

      If the claimant does not provide a good reason and special handling applies, make a reasonable effort to involve a third party and ask if they can assist the claimant with CE attendance.

  4. d. 

    Document your development on an SSA-5002 or a Case Note in DCPS, and "write to" the CDW.

5. CE reminders

  1. a. 

    You must attempt to remind the claimant of the CE (by telephone or by letter) 10 calendar days prior to the date of the appointment unless the CE is a short notice CE (see DI 22510.016C.2.).

  2. b. 

    When the reminder date falls on a non-business day, make the reminder on the next business day.

  3. c. 

    If you reach the claimant by telephone or you send a letter, provide the following:

    • •

      The CE information,

    • •

      A reminder that if they do not attend the CE we will have to make a decision based on the information available in their case, and

    • •

      Tell them this means we may find that they are not disabled.

  4. d. 

    If you are prompted to leave a voicemail message or a message with someone who is not the intended call recipient, see DI 22505.014A.1.b.

  5. e. 

    Document your development on an SSA-5002 or a Case Note in DCPS, and "write to" the CDW.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0422510019
DI 22510.019 - Consultative Examination (CE) Notice Follow up and Reminder - 07/16/2025
Batch run: 07/16/2025
Rev:07/16/2025