A CAL case is an Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS) case identified electronically by CAL selection software, or manually by the DDS, as having alleged impairments based on minimal, but sufficient, objective medical information that meets Social Security's statutory standard for disability. Do not designate the case as CAL if the condition does not meet these strict criteria.

CAL selection software identifies cases for CAL processing based solely on the claimant’s alleged impairments listed on the SSA-3368 Disability Report – Adult or SSA-3820 Disability Report – Child. If the claimant alleges a medical condition (by name, synonym, or abbreviation) that is on the CAL list, the selection software identifies the case for CAL processing.

The CAL website provides more information on CAL, and houses the impairment summaries for all CAL conditions.

A QDD case is an initial EDCS case identified electronically using a predictive model (PM). These cases have a high degree of probability that:

• •

  the claimant is disabled;

• •

  evidence of the claimant’s allegations is readily available; and

• •

  the DDS can process the case quickly.  

The CAL selection software identifies CAL cases upon EDCS transfer to the DDS at the initial adjudicative level. Adjudicators can manually identify CAL cases at the initial, reconsideration, hearing, and Appeals Council adjudicative levels.

Designated employees in the DDS, the Office of Quality Review (OQR), and the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) can manually add, remove, and reinstate a CAL indicator to a case per DI 23022.055. Field office (FO) employees cannot add, remove, or reinstate CAL cases. Like QDD, Terminal Illness (TERI) cases and Presumptive Disability (PD) or Presumptive Blindness (PB) claims, the FO must initiate full non-medical development for a CAL case.

CAL cases are:

1. a. 

   assigned to designated disability examiners who have the knowledge, training, and experience to effectively carry out the fast-track process, and meet the qualifications set forth in DI 23022.010D in this section;

2. b. 

   processed as expedited cases; and,

3. c. 

   designated simultaneously (as applicable) as a TERI case, PD or PB claim, and QDD case to ensure continued priority handling if the adjudicator removes the case from the CAL process.

NOTE: Although not all CAL cases involve terminal illness they are similar to TERI cases. For example, a person with a spinal cord injury could qualify as CAL – even if they can be expected to live for many years.

NOTE: To access the eView CAL page, select the hyperlink labeled "CAL" in the top right hand frame of the Electronic Folder (EF) in eView. The CAL link will display "CAL: Y" or "CAL: N".

The PM identifies QDD cases only at the initial adjudicative level, upon EDCS transfer to the DDS. You cannot manually add a QDD indicator. Designated employees in the DDS and the Office of Quality Review (OQR) can remove and reinstate a QDD indicator to a case. For authority and processes see, DI 23022.055. FO employees cannot remove or reinstate QDD cases. As with CAL, TERI cases and PD or PB claims, the FO must initiate full non-medical development for a QDD case.

QDD cases are:

1. a. 

   assigned to designated disability examiners who have the knowledge, training, and experience to effectively carry out the fast-track process, and meet the qualifications set forth in DI 23022.010D in this section;

2. b. 

   processed as expedited cases at all adjudicative levels; and

3. c. 

   designated simultaneously (as applicable) as a TERI case, PD/PB claim, and CAL case to ensure continued priority handling if the case is removed from the QDD process.