Updated Collateral Estoppel Guidance
Date:
Dear Colleague,
On July 13, 2024, we updated our guidelines for applying the principle of collateral estoppel in disability claims.
Under the legal principle of collateral estoppel, we will adopt a prior disability finding without the need to develop a new medical claim, if it was for the time period covered by the new application, unless there are reasons to believe that the prior finding on the issue was wrong or other specific criteria are not met. The updated guidelines allow our technicians to apply collateral estoppel to allow more disability claims without sending them to the Disability Determination Services for a new medical determination.
Read our policy to learn more.
Please share this important information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties.
Sincerely,
Dawn Bystry
Associate Commissioner
Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov