Effective Dates: 1/22/2026 - Present

Identification Number:
DI 27001 TN 9
Intended Audience:See Transmittal Sheet
Originating Office:ORDP ODP
Title:Introduction
Type:POMS Full Transmittals
Program:All Programs
Link To Reference:
 

PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEM

Part DI – Disability Insurance

Chapter 270 – Reconsideration Case Processing

Subchapter 01 – Introduction

Transmittal No. 9, 01/22/2026

Audience

PSC: DE, DEC, RECONR, SCPS;
OCO-OEIO: CR, ERE, FDE, RECONE;
OCO-ODO: DE, DEC, DS, RECONE;
ODD-DDS: ADJ, DHU;

Originating Component

ODP

Effective Date

Upon Receipt

Background

The Office of Disability Policy revised this POMS section to provide updated guidance on development at the reconsideration level to align with recently revised POMS sections about evidence development and sufficiency of evidence.

Summary of Changes

DI 27001.010 Development of Medical Evidence of Record (MER) at the Reconsideration Level

We updated this POMS section to:

  • •

    Retitle the section to "Case Development at the Reconsideration Level";

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    Relocate the information in DI 27001.001E.2 to subsection A;

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    Reorganize the section, retitle multiple subsections, and add cross-references to relevant policy throughout;

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    Add instructions about reviewing prior folder evidence, updating functional and vocational information, and documentation in the Disability Case Processing System (DCPS) in subsection B;

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    Create a new subsection C titled, "Sufficiency of evidence at the reconsideration level"; incorporated the information from subsection B.7; and added cross-references to DI 24501.016B and DI 22505.008; and

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    Create a new subsection D titled. "Claimant cooperation at the reconsideration level"; incorporated the information from subsection B.6; and added cross-references to DI 23007.000 and DI 23007.001A.

Conversion Table
Old POMS ReferenceNew POMS Reference
DI 27001.001E.2 DI 27001.010

DI 27001.010 Case Development at the Reconsideration Level

A. Policy for case development at the reconsideration level

The Disability Determination Services (DDS) makes accurate and complete reconsideration determinations that include sufficient evidence to assess impairment severity, duration, and functional limitations.

The reconsideration process is a de novo (i.e., a new) review that involves a thorough, independent examination of all evidence of record, including any new evidence received after the initial determination. The disability examiner (DE), medical consultant (MC), and psychological consultant (PC) must be different from the reviewers who made the initial determination.

When the DDS receives a request for reconsideration of an initial claim, the DE must review the case to:

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    Determine whether every reasonable effort to develop a complete medical history, including appropriate follow-up, was completed at the initial level (see DI 22505.001 and DI 22505.006). Send evidence requests to any medical sources missed or overlooked.

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    Send new evidence requests to unresponsive sources from the initial level.

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    Obtain additional information needed to document any new allegations or a worsening of the claimant's impairment(s).

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    Contact all sources from which the claimant received evaluation, examination, or treatment since the initial determination, and request any new evidence.

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    Obtain signatures for any unsigned or improperly signed medical reports secured at the initial level (e.g., SSA-795 (Statement of Claimant or Other Person) or consultative examination (CE) reports). For more information on obtaining medical evidence by telephone using Form SSA-795, see DI 22505.030. For more information on procedures for unsigned or improperly signed CE reports, see DI 22510.020B.

B. Evidence development at the reconsideration level

The rules that apply for developing evidence at the initial level also apply at the reconsideration level of review. However, the DDS must request evidence from sources that were contacted, but did not submit evidence at the initial level, see DI 22505.001 and DI 22505.006.

Evidence development at the reconsideration level includes the following:

1. Prior folder evidence

The DDS must review all available prior paper and electronic folders and copy relevant evidence into the current folder.

For more information on:

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    DDS responsibilities for requesting and reviewing prior folders, see DI 20505.010.

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    Relevant evidence, see DI 24501.016B.2.

2. Medical and nonmedical evidence

The DDS must make every reasonable effort to develop a complete medical history, see DI 22505.001A).

For Title XVI disabled child (DC) claims that requirement includes nonmedical and medical evidence from educational sources, see DI 22505.001A.2.

If the DDS discovers a new source or new evidence from an existing source is available, they must request the new or updated records, see DI 22505.008B.2.

Develop all available evidence related to the claimant's impairment(s). Do not develop evidence clearly unrelated to the impairment(s), such as routine dental care (see DI 22505.006A.3).

REMINDER: When requesting evidence, the DDS should use the most expeditious method available for that source (e.g., Health Information Technology (HIT) or Electronic Records Express (ERE)). For more information on types of evidence requests, see DI 22505.006C.

3. Functional information

If the claimant reports changes on the SSA-3441-BK (Disability Report - Appeal) or the evidence suggests a change to their functioning, the DDS must clarify the changes and obtain updated functional information. The DDS must request an updated SSA-3373-BK (Function Report - Adult) from the claimant or document changes to functioning in a Case Note in the Disability Case Processing System (DCPS) and "write to" the Disability Determination Explanation (DDE). For information on the policy and procedures for child function reports, see DI 25205.025.

If the claimant's functioning is unchanged since the initial level, there is no need to request updated functional information.

4. Vocational information

If the SSA-3441-BK indicates additional work since the initial determination and it appears to meet the relevancy requirements for past relevant work (PRW), the DDS should consider the best method for obtaining further evidence about that work considering the facts of the case (e.g., telephone call or SSA-3369-BK Work History Report).

If no vocational information was received on the initial level, the DDS must request a new SSA-3369-BK or document the vocational information in a Case Note in DCPS and "write to" the DDE.

Ensure the FO has evaluated the new work for its effect on the potential onset date (POD). For more information on FO and DDS roles regarding POD, see DI 25501.220B.

For more information on developing vocational evidence, see DI 22515.000.

5. Consultative examination (CE)

The reconsideration claim must contain sufficient evidence to assess impairment severity, duration, and functional limitations. If the evidence is insufficient or inconsistent and the DDS needs additional information to make a determination, they may purchase one or more CEs, even if the claimant did not cooperate with attending a CE at the initial level.

For information on:

C. Sufficiency of evidence at the reconsideration level

Sufficiency of evidence must be considered during the reconsideration process. If the evidence contains inconsistencies or insufficiencies that are material to the determination, the DDS must complete supplemental development to resolve the inconsistencies or insufficiencies.

For more information on:

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    Inconsistent and insufficient evidence, see DI 24501.016B.

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    Supplemental development, see DI 22505.008.

D. Claimant cooperation at the reconsideration level

The DDS must complete all the applicable development as discussed in DI 27001.010B in this section and follow the sequential evaluation process.

If the claimant failed to cooperate at the initial level, the DDS must make a new initial request for evidence or action needed at the reconsideration level.

If the claimant does not comply within the time allowed, the DDS must make a reasonable effort to follow up on the request(s), and involve a third party when special handling applies, see DI 22505.014A and DI 23007.010.

When a CE is needed and the claimant has cooperated with other requests for evidence or action at the reconsideration level (e.g., forms completion, etc.), the DDS must schedule the CE and follow existing procedures to notify, confirm, and remind the claimant of the examination, see DI 22510.016.

NOTE: If the claimant did not comply with the Field Office (FO) request to complete the SSA-3441-BK or the SSA-827 (Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration) at the reconsideration level, the DDS will consider the FO request as an initial request for evidence and follow up on the initial request per DI 22505.014A.

For more information on:

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    Failure to cooperate (FTC), see DI 23007.000.

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    Special handling, see DI 23007.001A.


DI 27001 TN 9 - Introduction - 1/22/2026