When the CE is not confirmed within 10 calendar days, DDS must make one attempt to
confirm by telephone contact to ask for confirmation. For claims requiring special
handling, you must also attempt one telephone contact to identify and involve a third
party. When you are unable to speak to the applicable individual(s) as discussed in
DI 22510.016C in this section, and you cannot leave a message, send a call in letter. For additional
details on what to do when a claimant does not confirm a CE, see DI 22510.019D.
NOTE: When the claimant, applicant, or AR does not respond to your telephone contact or
call-in letter to confirm attendance, cancel the CE appointment unless the claimant
requires special handling. When the claimant requires special handling, cancel the
CE appointment only when the claimant and third party (when you are able to identify
and involve a third party) does not respond to your telephone contact or call-in letter
to confirm attendance.
1. You speak to the claimant, applicant,
AR,
or third
party
Do the following:
-
•
Confirm the claimant will attend the CE, or reschedule the CE when there is a request
to do so and a good reason is provided, and
-
•
Provide a reminder that failure to attend the CE appointment may result in you making
a determination based on the evidence in file, which means that you may find the claimant
not disabled.
Document the date, content of your conversation, and with whom you spoke, on an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact), in DCPS, or on the DDS worksheet.
2. You leave a message
You may leave a message on the voicemail recording system of a telephone number in
the claim file that is attributable to the claimant or their applicant, AR, or third
party. You may also leave a message with an adult who answers a telephone number in
the claim file that is attributable to the claimant or their applicant, AR, or third
party (e.g., the claimant’s spouse or an AR’s assistant).
Include the following information:
-
•
Your name, title, telephone number and date that you called. Do not disclose any unnecessary
personal information about the claimant (see GN 03316.005D),
-
•
The date, time, and location of the CE appointment,
-
•
A request that the claimant, applicant, AR, or third party return the call to confirm
the CE appointment within 10 calendar days from the date of the message. Explain that
failure to do so will cause you to cancel the appointment, and
-
•
A reminder that failure to attend the CE appointment may result in you making a determination
based on the evidence in file, which means that you may find the claimant not disabled.
Document the date, content of your message, and with whom you left it, on an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact), in DCPS, or on the DDS worksheet.
3. You send a call-in letter
Include the following information:
-
•
Your name, title, telephone number and date of the letter,
-
•
The date, time, and location of the CE appointment,
-
•
A request that the claimant, applicant, AR, or third party call you to confirm the
CE appointment within 10 calendar days from the date of the letter, and
-
•
A reminder that failure to confirm the CE appointment will cause you to cancel it
and may result in you making a determination based on the evidence in file, which
means that you may find the claimant not disabled.