Less than fully favorable disability cessation appeals are not adjudicated at the pre-hearing (PH) level. The PH level completes assessment forms and sends all less than fully favorable determinations to the disability hearing unit (DHU).

The DDS will take the following actions to prepare a case for the disability hearing:

1. 1. 

   Ensure proper documentation of the folder. For more information about documenting the disability folder, see DI 20503.001.

2. 2. 

   Enter "Advisory" on the medical assessment form(s) completed by the medical/psychological consultant (MC/PC) at the PH level:

   • •

     SSA-4734-BK Physical Residual Functional Capacity Assessment,

   • •

     SSA-4734-F4-SUP Mental Residual Functional Capacity Assessment,

   • •

     SSA-2506-BK Psychiatric Review Technique Form,

   • •

     SSA-538-F6 Childhood Disability Evaluation Form,

   • •

     SSA-416-UF Medical Evaluation.

   NOTE 1: If the case is sent to the DHU, the Disability Case Processing System (DCPS) marks all applied medical assessments as "Advisory" on the Disability Determination Explanation (DDE). If the assessment form has been imaged into the certified electronic folder (e.g., paper cases) and cannot be changed, the user will access eView and annotate "Advisory" in the "Notes" field next to the assessment form. To access the "Notes" field, the user will click on Details and type "Advisory" in the note field.

   NOTE 2: If the MC/PC is adopting the initial level medical assessment(s), ensure all the criteria in DI 27001.015B.2. are met.

   For more information about processing a reconsideration appeal of an electronic continuing disability review (eCDR) cessation, see DI 81020.255B.1.b.

3. 3. 

   Prepare an SSA-887 (Summary of Evidence). See DI 29025.001B. for more information about completing the SSA-887, and DI 29025.010 for an exhibit of the form.

   NOTE: The DDS Administrator has the discretion to determine whether the DDS or the DHU completes the SSA-887 (Summary of Evidence). If a Federal DHU is responsible for issuing the reconsidered determination, the DDS Administrator and Disability Adjudication (DA) must agree whether the Federal DHU or the DDS will complete the SSA-887.

The CPD is not relevant in the evaluation of an Age 18 Redetermination. Thus, CPD evidence should not be identified on the SSA-887. If the determination involves only an Age 18 Redetermination, identify the current evidence in the case. When you scan or copy relevant evidence into the folder, as described in DI 23570.020C.2., include this evidence in Section A. on the SSA-887.

For more information about processing a reconsideration appeal of an eCDR cessation, see DI 81020.255B.1.b.

For paper cases, follow these instructions to transmit the case to the DHU:

1. 1. 

   Update the case control system using the appropriate DDS or DHU code as the destination code. The appropriate destination code may vary based on local operating procedures;

2. 2. 

   Use an SSA-408 (Route Slip) to send the case to the DHU and annotate it to alert the DHU to any special situations (e.g., associated new claim, section 301 cases, drug addiction or alcoholism (DAA), prisoner case); and

3. 3. 

   Hand-deliver the case if the DHU is co-located with the DDS. Otherwise, mail it or, if possible, use a courier service to speed delivery.