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July 10th, 2007

"QDD To Fast-track Cases"

A program designed to accelerate the Social Security disability benefits process may soon become available across the United States. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today that it will publish a proposed extension of its new Quick Disability Determination (QDD) program to all of the States' offices.

How QDD Works

QDD is a predictive model that analyzes particular elements of data in the electronic form of a claimant's file. The model identifies the claims in which:

• The claimant is most likely disabled, and
• There is evidence of the disability that can be quickly and easily obtained.

Such claims can then be fast-tracked, significantly shortening the time to a disability decision and the waiting period for benefits.

Success of the Pilot Program

The QDD model has been in operation in the Boston region for some time now, and has worked so well that the SSA will implement the model nationwide. In the Boston region, which is comprised of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island, 97 percent of the cases identified by QDD have been decided within 21 days, and the average decision time for the cases has been just 11 days.

The new Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael J. Astrue, announced the proposed expansion of the QDD model nationwide, saying "At my confirmation hearing, I promised to look closely at the disability changes we were testing in New England and implement nationally those things that were working well…We have seen the success of the QDD model in identifying cases that are most likely to be allowed."

Three Percent of the Applications for Benefits

In the Boston region, QDD cases have been slightly less than 3 percent of all new disability claims, in part because the QDD model does not yet cull a wide variety of disabilities and diseases. Commissioner Astrue expressed his commitment to expanding the net for QDD cases as much as possible while maintaining the model's accuracy.

"The length of time many people wait for a disability decision is unacceptable," he said. "I am committed to a process that is as fair and speedy as possible. While there is no single magic bullet, with better systems, better business processes and better ways of fast-tracking targeted cases, we can greatly improve the service we provide this vulnerable population."

Attacking the Backlog

Each year, the SSA receives more than 2.5 million new disability claims. The QDD program is expected to help attack the huge backlog of cases waiting for decisions. There is a 30-day public comment period for the proposed QDD regulation; it can be read online at the SSA's website.

(Source: Social Security Administration)

Do you feel that you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits? Contact an attorney who can help make the application process go as quickly as possible for you.