The two attached files explain how you can help people apply for disability via the Internet, instead of having to go down to an office and waiting. Currently, most people can file for SSDI completely, (all the forms via the Internet).
 

If someone is applying for SSI, they can't fill out the "non-medical" form, but they can complete the Medical Questionnaire online. This will still greatly benefit them.

If you are currently helping people file for disability by helping with the paper forms, you are encouraged to consider doing it via the Internet instead. Because it saves mailing and routing time, it will overall reduce the time people must wait for decisions.

The "Helping." file gives some rationale. The "Completing..." gives the nitty gritty instructions and criteria.

Information provided by Steve Potter, Social Security Administration.

 

Applying for Disability Online

Using the online Adult of Child Disability and Work History Report gives you:

 

• Security and privacy for your information. 
• Step by step instructions and examples to help you complete the report.  
• A process to collect information that applies to you, similar to the interview process in a Social Security office. 
• The ability to work at your own pace, stopping when you want and coming back to finish later.

Recent testimony of SSA Commissioner Barnhart on how SSA is trying to speed up the Disability process:

A prerequisite for our long-term strategy is development and implementation of an electronic disability claims system. The Accelerated Electronic Disability System (AeDIB) is a major Agency initiative that will move all components involved in disability claims adjudication and review to an electronic business process through the use of an electronic disability folder.

These components include the field office, regional office, the program service center, the State Disability Determination Service (DDS), the hearings and appeals office, and the quality assurance staff. When the process is fully implemented, each component will be able to work claims by electronically accessing and retrieving information that is collected, produced and stored as part of the electronic disability folder.

This will reduce delays that result from mailing, locating, and organizing paper folders. SSA field offices are currently collecting disability information for initial adult and child cases using the Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS).

 

Also, claimants can now use the Internet to submit disability information which is then propagated into EDCS.  

 

Implementation of an electronic disability folder is essential for process improvements. Therefore, structurally, my long-term strategy for achieving process improvements is predicated on successful implementation of our electronic disability system.

 

Completing Medical Questionnaire via Internet

 

Steps for logging in:

 

1. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov/adultdisabilityreport (adult) or to www.socialsecurity.gov/childdisabilityreport  (under 18)
2. Begin entering data.

The internet form, i3368, (Adult Disability and Work HistoryReport) or i3820 (Child Disability Report) allows the claimant to:

 

• complete the medical questionnaire (i3368 – Adult  or i3820 - Child) and the SSA-3369 Work History Report (if  applicable) online, 
• generate medical releases based on the medical source information provided online, and 
• transmit the i3368/69 or i3820 to the Social Security Administration (SSA)  electronically. 
• While completing the i3368 or i3820 online, claimants are afforded step-by-step guidance that includes examples and explanations on: 
  • how to complete the form, 
  • why we ask for medical, work and educational information, and 
  • how that information is used to determine whether or not the individual is considered disabled.

Upon completion of the i3368 or i3820 the claimant is directed to:

 

• print, sign and date a signature page, and 
• print, sign, date and have witnessed one SSA-827 (medical release) for each medical source or other source, plus  two extra forms, and 
• mail or bring the signature page and SSA-827s to the local Social Security(SS) office or a different SS office, if  desired.

 

i3368 or i3820 Requirements

A potential claimant must meet all of the requirements below to complete an i3368 or i3820.
The claimant cannot be using a Macintosh (MAC) PC, IOpener, or MSN TV. 
 

•  The claimant must:
  •  live in the United States,
  •  be age 18 or older and under Full Retirement Age,
  •  not have filed and been denied for disability benefits within the past 60 days,
  •  have a working printer connected to his/her PC, and 
  •  have an Internet browser that supports 128 bit encryption.

NOTE: A claimant whose Internet browser does not support 128 bit encryption can upgrade the Internet browser by contacting his/her browser software company (usually Microsoft or Netscape). A link to those two companies is provided on SSA's Website.

Claimants who do not meet all requirements will not be able to complete the i3368 or i3820 and will be advised to contact a local SS office or the 800 number to complete a paper SSA-3368 or SSA-3820 or to use the Internet portable document format (.pdf) version of the SSA-3368 of SSA-3820.

 

i3368 or i3820 Features

The following features are offered to i3368 or i3820 applicants: 

"Reentry " allows the claimant to exit an i3368 or i3820 at any time before completion and return to it at a later time without loss of data using his or her unique reentry number.

NOTE: Claimants have three chances to enter the correct SSN and reentry number. After the third unsuccessful attempt, they are locked out from reentering that partial i3368 or i3820 and advised to either start a new one or contact SSA for alternate ways to complete a Disability Report. (See below for information regarding a partial i3368 or i3820.) Neither the 800 number nor the local SS office can provide the reentry number.

"Partial" describes an i3368 or i3820 that is partially completed and not yet finally transmitted to SSA. A claimant can reenter the partial i3368 or i3820 and complete it using the reentry number. If the claimant cannot reenter a partial i3368 or i3820 because he/she cannot remember the reentry number, a new form can be started.

NOTE: i3368 or i3820 claimants are limited to three partials. Only the most recently started partial i3368 or i3820 is the active record.

"Changes to i3368 or i3820" allows the claimant to make changes to the information entered on the screens while in the i3368 or i3820 initially or upon reentering.

NOTE: The claimant cannot make changes to the i3368 or i3820 once he/she has transmitted it to SSA by using the send button. If the claimant needs to add or change information after the i3368 or i3820 has been finally transmitted, he/she can:

 

•  write out the information and mail or take it to the local SS office, or      
•  call the local SS office with the new or changed information.

 

Security of data

 

SSA uses the most secure commercially available encryption programs to ensure that caller information is safeguarded as it travels over the Internet.