Step 1: Application Review

Your initial SSDI application is looked over by the Rhode Island DDS team to:

• Verify all required documents and forms are complete.
• Gather basic medical information related to your disability claim.
• Check eligibility based on your work credits and SSA rules.

Step 2: Medical Evidence Collection

Rhode Island DDS collects and reviews your medical records, including:

• Doctor notes, test results, and treatment histories linked to your condition.
• Additional information requested from your healthcare providers as needed.
• Ensuring medical evidence satisfies SSA’s disability duration and severity standards.

Step 3: Functional Capacity Evaluation

The team evaluates your ability to:

• Perform basic work activities such as lifting, sitting, standing, and walking.
• Handle daily living tasks and assess limitations caused by your disability.
• Determine your residual functional capacity (RFC) for work.

Step 4: Decision Making

Based on the review, DDS makes a determination by:

• Deciding if your condition meets one of the SSA’s Listings of Impairments.
• Concluding if you can perform any other work available in the economy.
• Issuing an initial approval or denial decision.

Common Challenges in Rhode Island

Applicants often face issues such as:

• Incomplete or inconsistent medical documentation delaying determinations.
• Lack of detailed RFC reports from healthcare providers.
• Difficulty meeting SSA’s rigorous disability definitions.
• Not attending required medical consultative exams.