Social Security

Identification Number:	EM-24021
Intended Audience:	All ROs/DDSs/DPUs/DPBs
Originating Office:	DCO ODD
Title:	2024 Full Medical CDR Workload – One-Time-Only Instructions
Type:	EM - Emergency Messages
Program:	Disability
Link To Reference:

A. Purpose

This emergency message (EM) provides DDSs with workload guidance for the processing of continuing disability reviews (CDRs) for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2024.

With the enactment of our full-year appropriation for this fiscal year, we are lowering our Full Medical CDR target from 575,000 to 375,000.
This reduction will allow DDSs to focus on processing Initial Disability Claims and Reconsideration cases. The field offices will not send additional Full Medical CDRs to the DDS for the remainder of FY 2024.

1. Unassigned CDRs

Do not assign unassigned CDRs pending in your receipt or staging queue. DDS should take no action on the unassigned Full Medical CDRs.

2. CDRs requiring a Consultative Examinations (CE)

Cancel all consultative examinations (CEs) scheduled on or after June 21, 2024, for all Full Medical CDRs unless identified as an exception in Section 3 below.

3. Instructions for processing CDR workloads exceptions
Continue to develop and complete all cases in the following exception categories, including the scheduling of CEs:
a. Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies,
b. Expedited Reinstatement (EXR),
c. Pre-Hearing (PH),
d. Disability Hearing (DH), and
e. Fraud or Similar Fault (FSF).
4. Age 18 Redeterminations:
If you have sufficient evidence in file at the publication date of this emergency message, make the Age 18 Redetermination.
If the evidence in file at the publication date of this emergency message is insufficient to make the Age 18 Redetermination:
a. Do not initiate additional development, such as requesting medical evidence of record (MER) or school records;
b. Do not schedule for consultative examinations (CE); and,
c. Do not assign to medical or psychological consultant(s) for review.
5. Other Assigned CDRs
DDSs should take no action on the suspended Full Medical CDRs until they receive additional instructions.
The Office of Disability Determinations (ODD) is investigating possible IT solutions to move some of the suspended and unassigned Full Medical CDRs currently in the staging queue from DDS systems. Additional instructions regarding this possible solution will be provided in the coming weeks.

DDS is not responsible for notifying beneficiaries regarding the suspension of the CDR. SSA is exploring options to notify beneficiaries whose cases are pending in the DDS. If notification is required, SSA will notify beneficiaries.

Direct all program-related and technical questions to your Regional Office (RO) support staff using vHelp or Program Service Center (PSC) Operations Analysis (OA) staff. RO support staff or PSC OA staff may refer questions, concerns or problems to their Central Office contacts

---