TN 1 (02-20)

DI 71001.030 Disability Determination Services (DDS) Process for Title II Initial Disability Claims Canadian Residents File in the United States

Disability Determination Services (DDS) in Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Dakota, and Washington make the disability determination on initial disability claims and reconsideration requests Canadian residents file in United States (U.S.) border field offices (FO). Non-border field offices (FO) send claims filed by Canadian residents to the Office of International Operations (OIO) for a medical determination.

A. DDS initial claims process

Adjudicate initial title II claims following the usual procedures. Upon completion of all disability determination actions, transfer the claim to the border FO to associate with the non-medical portion of the claim.

NOTE: Contact the border FO to discuss any questions related to ceasing medical development (e.g., SGA earnings), before returning the case to the border FO.

1. DDS medical development and evaluation process

Follow normal medical development and evaluation procedures found in:

When following up by letter or telephone, use existing DDS timeframes. You may allow additional time for mail to and from Canada.

2. Consultative examinations (CE) process

a. Claimant’s medical source

If the medical evidence is not available or is insufficient, arrange a CE. The claimant’s medical source(s) is the preferred CE source. However, if we cannot use the claimant’s medical source, schedule the CE in the U.S. The DDS may also maintain a list of Canadian CE sources.

b. Travel distance to a CE

If the claimant indicates that he or she does not live within a reasonable traveling distance of the U.S. border, arrange the CE near the claimant’s residence.

c. Claimant fails to attend the CE appointment

If the claimant fails to attend the scheduled CE appointment, follow the procedures in DI 22510.016D. When following up by letter or telephone, use existing DDS timeframes. You may allow additional mail time for correspondence to and from Canada. For when to make a determination based on the evidence in file, see DI 23007.015.

B. Preparing the disability determination

Upon receipt of the medical evidence, CE report(s), or both, evaluate the findings and if the evidence is sufficient, prepare the disability determination according to normal medical and vocational evaluation procedures.

C. Claimant moves during the adjudication process

To determine jurisdiction if the claimant moves during the adjudication process, follow the instructions in DI 20101.035 Disability Determination Services (DDS) and Social Security (SSA) Jurisdictions when the Claimant Moves.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0471001030
DI 71001.030 - Disability Determination Services (DDS) Process for Title II Initial Disability Claims Canadian Residents File in the United States - 02/12/2020
Batch run: 02/12/2020
Rev:02/12/2020