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.

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:

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.

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.

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.