Additional Information and Programs
Disability Determinations
Applications for Social Security disability benefits can be completed online at Disability | SSA. If you are unable to complete the application online, you can apply by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lastly, you can also apply in person at a local Social Security office. To find the most conveniently located Social Security office, visit Social Security Office Locator.
The Social Security field office is responsible for verifying non-medical eligibility requirements, which may include age, employment, marital status, or Social Security coverage information. The field office then sends the case the local DDS office for evaluation of disability. At DDS, the claim is assigned to a professionally trained disability analyst who will work with a State Agency Medical Doctor and/or Psychological Consultant to gather and evaluate medical and non-medical evidence to make a medical determination on whether or not a claimant is disabled or blind under the law.
To apply for Medicaid, visit Virginia's Medical Assistance Programs.
Fraud Prevention
The Virginia DDS works in conjunction with SSA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) through a Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) unit to prevent fraud in the disability program. The CDI program was established in 1998 to effectively pool resources and expertise to prevent fraud in SSA's disability programs. The CDI program's primary mission is to obtain evidence that can resolve questions of fraud before benefits are ever paid. Reports from CDI Units can also be used to cease benefits of in-payment beneficiaries during the continuing disability review (CDR) process. For more information about CDI, OIG, or to report fraud, waste, or abuse, visit http://oig.ssa.gov/ or contact our Deputy Director - Admin, Brett Fielding.
SOAR in Virginia
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) is a national program designed to increase access to the disability income benefits administered by the Social Security Administration for eligible adults and children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment or a co-occurring substance use disorder. The SOAR effort in Virginia is an initiative designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI. For more information visit the Virginia SOAR website at https://soarworks.samhsa.gov.
School Evidence
Information from both medical and non-medical sources are used to decide whether a child qualifies for Social Security disability benefits. Medical sources include doctors and other health care professionals. Non-medical sources include teachers and other people who spend time with the child. Information from non-medical sources who are familiar with the child is important, because a child's eligibility may be directly related to how well he or she functions at school, at home, or in the community. School records, which may include copies of evaluations, testing, education plans, and other important school documents, help us form a complete profile of the child and the ways, and extent to which, his or her impairment(s) affects day-to-day functioning. For more information about the disability process, visit Childhood Disability for School Professionals . More information is also available from the Social Security Administration's Benefits Planner.
Information for Representatives
Authorized representatives must provide SSA with an Appointment of Representative form (SSA-1696), signed by the individual filing for benefits. This form can be found online under the Appointment Of Representative – Form SSA-1696.
The Virginia DDS provides bi-weekly electronic status reports for closed and pending claims. To obtain this report, representatives must complete a Claim Status Report Registration Form. Email the completed form to VA.DDS.claims.status@ssa.gov. We do not accept faxed lists of claimant names nor provide routine status on claims via fax or phone calls.
Please review the VA DDS Claim Status Report Fact Sheet for full details.
Electronic Records Express (ERE)
To improve the efficiency of the disability case processing system, the Virginia DDS promotes the use of electronic submission of medical and psychological evidence. Evidence providers can submit records by toll-free fax or uploading records through Social Security's ERE Web site. The evidence is immediately available to the DDS. For more information visit, https://www.ssa.gov/ere/.
Consultative Examination
When a decision cannot be made based on evidence received from treating sources, DDS authorizes and funds a consultative examination. Community based physicians, psychologists and facilities supply these services. For more information on becoming a consultative examination provider, please contact our Professional Relations Team Leader, Teresa Sizemore-Hernandez or one of our Professional Relations Officers (as shown under the local district office's information on the Contact page).