Quick Disability Determinations (QDD)  

We are obligated to provide benefits quickly to claimants whose medical conditions are so serious that they clearly meet our disability standards. Quick Disability Determinations (QDD) is one of our fast-track initiatives that uses technology to identify claimants with the most severe disabilities and allows us to expedite our decisions on those cases.

The QDD process uses a computer-based predictive model to screen initial applications to identify cases where a favorable disability determination is highly likely and medical evidence is readily available. By identifying QDD claims early in the process, we can prioritize this workload and expedite case processing. We have used QDD nationally since February 2008. We continue to refine the QDD predictive model to maximize its capacity to identify accurately these cases, so that we can expand the QDD process to serve additional claimants.

Related Links:

Agency Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plans, and Performance and Accountability Reports

• Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2008 - 2013 [See Strategic Goal 2 – Improve the speed and quality of our disability process]
• Social Security's Performance Plans [See performance measure 2.1a]
• SSA's Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year (FY)
2010 [See objective 2.1a]

Compassionate Allowances

Employee Operating Instructions

• DI 11005.603: Processing Quick Disability Determinations (QDD) Cases - Field Office (FO) Instructions
• DI 23022.000: Processing Quick Disability Determination (QDD) and Compassionate Allowance (CAL) in the Disability Determination Services (DDS)
• DI 23023.001: Disability Examiner Authority for Quick Disability Determinations and Compassionate Allowance Initiative Cases