TN 114 (07-24)

DI 11005.018 The Disability Interview Process

A. Disability Interview - General Responsibilities

The disability interview process is based on the following general areas of responsibility.

1. Field Office (FO)

  • SSA-3368-BK (Disability Report - Adult), or SSA-3820-BK (Disability Report - Child);

  • SSA-3375-BK through SSA-3379-BK (Function Report - Child), as applicable by the claimant's age;

  • SSA-3367 (Disability Report - Field Office); and

  • SSA-3369-BK (Work History Report), when the claimant had more than one job in the five-year period before they stopped working due to their medical condition(s) and the FO has reason to believe the claimant may be difficult to recontact (e.g., due to homelessness).

NOTE: When requested by the claimant, the FO will mail a Disability Starter Kit with an appointment letter.

2. Disability Determination Services (DDS)

  • SSA-3369-BK (Work History Report);

  • SSA-3373-BK (Function Report-Adult);

  • SSA-3380-BK (Function Report-Adult-Third Party).

When the FO has curtailed completion of the forms listed in DI 11005.018A.1. in this section, the DDS is responsible for obtaining any additional information that is necessary, based on the case facts. For additional information on curtailment scenarios, see DI 11005.020.

B. Disability Interview Process - Details

1. Self-help

The claimant completes a Medical and Job Worksheet for adult claims or a Medical Information and School Worksheet for child claims, and the appropriate child Function Report (SSA-3375 through SSA-3379).

The FO will conduct the disability interview, enter the claimant's information into the Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS), and prepare an EDCS-3367 (Disability Report – Field Office). Additionally, the FO will complete the SSA-820 (Work Activity Report - Self-Employment), SSA-821 (Work Activity Report - Employee), and SSA-823 (Report of SGA Determination), as applicable, when there are work issues, obtain an application, and obtain a signed, dated, and witnessed SSA-827 (Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration). For more information on using the SSA-820 and SSA-823, see DI 10510.025. For more information on using the SSA-821 and SSA-823, see DI 10505.035.

The FO will then transfer the case to the DDS.

2. Non-Self-Help

The FO will conduct the disability interview, enter the claimant's information into EDCS, and prepare an EDCS-3367. Additionally, the FO will complete the SSA-820 (Work Activity Report - Self-Employment), SSA-821 (Work Activity Report - Employee), and SSA-823 (Report of SGA Determination), as applicable, when there are work issues, obtain an application, and obtain a signed, dated, and witnessed SSA-827. For more information on using the SSA-820 and SSA-823, see DI 10510.025. For more information on using the SSA-821 and SSA-823, see DI 10505.035.

When the FO believes recontact with the claimant will be difficult (as discussed in DI 11005.018A.1., in this section), the claimant asks to have the forms completed by an interviewer or demonstrates concern about their ability to complete the forms, or the FO interviewer suspects the claimant will be unable to complete the forms properly, the FO will complete the SSA-3373-BK and the SSA- 3369-BK (if the claimant had more than one job in the five-year period before they stopped working due to their medical condition(s)).

The FO will then transfer the case to the DDS.

3. DDS Procedures

The DDS will use the forms in the Disability Case Processing System (DCPS) to collect information about the claimant's symptoms, the SSA-3373-BK to collect information about the claimant's ability to perform activities of daily living, and the SSA-3380-BK to collect information from third parties familiar with the claimant's daily activities and functioning (e.g., the claimant's spouse, relatives, neighbors, friends, clergy, or teachers).

Neither the SSA-3373-BK or the SSA-3380-BK is required in all cases. The DDS will use them if they determine that functional evidence is needed. The DDS will not send the SSA-827 to a third party unless the DDS knows from past experience that the source requires it to complete the SSA-3380-BK. For more information on completing the SSA-827, see DI 11005.055. The DDS may also decide to obtain the information requested on the SSA-3373-BK or SSA-3380-BK by telephone and document it on an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) or in a Case Note that is copied to the case development worksheet (CDW) in DCPS.

 


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0411005018
DI 11005.018 - The Disability Interview Process - 07/03/2024
Batch run: 10/30/2024
Rev:07/03/2024