Step 1: Submit Your SSDI Application

Start the process by:

• Filing your SSDI application online or at your local Social Security office.
• Providing detailed information about your medical history and work background.
• Including contact information for your treating physicians and medical providers.

Step 2: Kansas Disability Determination Services (DDS) Review

After your application is received, DDS will:

• Gather medical records and other necessary evidence from your doctors.
• Request additional information or schedule a consultative medical exam (CME) if needed.
• Evaluate your medical condition using SSA guidelines to determine severity.

Step 3: Functional Capacity Assessment

The evaluation focuses on:

• Your ability to perform daily activities and sustain employment.
• The limitations caused by your impairments on physical and mental work tasks.
• Whether your condition meets or equals a listed impairment in SSA’s Blue Book.

Step 4: SSA Makes the Final Decision

Based on DDS findings, SSA will:

• Approve or deny your SSDI claim.
• Send you a written notice explaining the decision.
• Offer options to appeal the decision if denied.

Common Reasons for Denial

Keep in mind these frequent issues:

• Incomplete medical evidence or missing documentation.
• Conditions that do not meet SSA’s strict definitions of disability.
• Failure to show how the disability prevents work on a regular basis.
• Not attending required consultative exams or follow-ups.