See Disability Determination Services (DDS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) Jurisdictions - Initial and Subsequent Cases DI 20101.001 to decipher whether a claim is DDS jurisdiction or SSA jurisdiction. Do not send SSA jurisdiction disability claims to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) for a medical determination.

Send cases that do not require action by the DDS to the Office of Disability Operations (ODO) or a Program Service Center (PSC) 1–6.

For Certified Electronic Folder (CEF) cases see Certified Electronic Folder (CEF) Overview DI 81001.005.

Use the following guidelines to determine where to send a disability case when SSA jurisdiction applies:

1. 1. 

   If the disabled worker is alive and under age 54, send the case to ODO.

2. 2. 

   If the disabled worker is age 54 or older or is deceased, route the case directly to the PSC that has jurisdiction of the SSN of the Number Holder (NH).

Send the case as follows for subsequent claims:

1. 1. 

   If the primary disabled worker is under age 54 and is living, send the case to ODO.

2. 2. 

   If the primary disabled worker is age 54 or older, or deceased send the claim directly to the PSC processing module that has jurisdiction of the NH's SSN.

   NOTE: Since ODO does not transfer the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) and claims folder for the related claim to the PSC until the primary NH is age 54, send subsequent claims to ODO until 1 month before age 54.