Contact with the individual (or their representative) is generally initiated by a
personal interview in the Social Security field office (FO). At that time, the individual
receives an explanation of the continuing disability review (CDR) process and information
concerning their rights and responsibilities. The FO records and includes pertinent
information about the individual's medical condition and vocational background in
the case folder.
NOTE: MINE (medical improvement not expected), or MINE-equivalent cases usually will not
require personal interview at the FO.
Upon receipt of the case from the FO, the disability determination services (DDS)
reviews the information obtained during the personal interview and begins development
of the medical evidence by contacting the appropriate medical sources.
If the DDS finds that information contained in the case file is not sufficient for
adjudicative purposes (for example, vocational documentation is not complete), contact
the individual (or their representative) by telephone or by mail. If the contact is
by telephone, annotate the name of the individual and the information received on
a SSA-5002 (Report of Contact). Sites that use the electronic claims analysis tool (eCAT) may
document this telephone conversation in a claims communication.