All claimants age 65 or over require special handling. For these claims, follow the
instructions in DI 25015.025.
Other claims require special handling when the claimant does not have an applicant
filing on his or her behalf or an appointed representative, and at least one of the
following applies:
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Limited English proficiency (LEP),
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A severe, mental medically determinable impairment (MDI)
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Undergoing an age 18 redetermination, or
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Aged out of foster care in the last two years (identified by case flag).
NOTE: You must assume an alleged mental impairment to be a severe MDI unless you have evidence
to the contrary. When you have such evidence, document it on a SSA-2506
Psychiatric Review Technique and do not apply special handling procedures.
REMEMBER: For claims requiring special handling, you must make at least one attempt to identify
and involve a third party before you stop attempts to get the claimant's cooperation.
Most claims will have a third party identified in Section 2 of the SSA-3368 Disability
Report -Adult, SSA-3441 Disability
Report - Appeal, or SSA-454 Continuing
Disability Review Report. When the Field Office (FO) has identified an additional third party, the information
will be in section 11 of the SSA-3368, SSA-3441, or SSA-454. You must make a reasonable
effort to involve the additional third party when provided by FO and your efforts
with the other third party was not productive. For additional information on making
a reasonable effort to identify and involve a third party, see DI 23007.010.