POMS Reference

DI 23510: Death Cases

BASIC (09-08)

A. Disability Determination Services (DDS) jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is with the DDS in the State of the wage earner’s permanent residence immediately before his/her death. If the wage earner did not have a permanent residence, or a permanent residence is not obvious, determine DDS jurisdiction by the residence of the applicant.

B. DDS actions (chart)

To determine required DDS actions regarding Form SSA-831 (Disability Determination and Transmittal), notification, and any special routing instructions use this chart:

Situation Claim type Determination DDS action

Childhood disability beneficiary (CDB) or disabled widow(er) (DWB) filed after claimant’s death

CDB or DWB

No Determination

Field Office (FO) Jurisdiction

Return the case to the FO.

(See DI 81020.127 Processing “No Determination” Claims.)

Application filed more than three months after the wage earner's death

Disability insurance benefit (DIB)

No Determination

(FO Jurisdiction)

Return the case to the FO.

(See, DI 81020.127 Processing “No Determination” Claims.)

Alleged onset date (AOD) less than five full months before the month of death (and no possibility of earlier onset)

DIB (Initial or Reconsideration)

No Determination

(Program Service Center [PSC] jurisdiction unless a possible earlier onset date needs to be developed.)

Return the case to the FO.

(See, DI 81020.127 Processing “No Determination” Claims.)

Established onset date (EOD) same as AOD

DIB (Initial or Reconsideration)

Allowance

(DDS Jurisdiction)

SSA-831

Complete as usual with the following exceptions:

Item 17 (Diary): Enter

  • NXP” for the diary type,

  • 0000” for the diary date (may be 4 or 6 characters depending on DDS legacy system), and

  • 7” for the diary reason.

Item 29 (Ltr./Par. No.): Leave Blank

EOD after AOD (whether EOD is more than or less than five full months before the month of death);

or

Closed Period

DIB (Initial or Reconsideration)

Partially Favorable Allowance

(DDS Jurisdiction)

SSA-831

Complete as usual with the following exceptions:

Item 17 (Diary): Enter

  • NXP” for the diary type,

  • 0000” for the diary date (may be 4 or 6 characters depending on DDS legacy system), and

  • 7” for the diary reason.

Do not complete for closed period cases.

Item 29 (Lt./Par. No.): Enter “PSC/DL”. (If the system is unable to generate the proper disability determination notice and a manual notice must be prepared.)

Notification

DDS prepares a personalized disability explanation in the third person.

Routing

Route the folder to the FO with a Special Handling flag (see, DI 81030.090 Certified Electronic Folder (CEF) Alerts, Flags, and Messages).

Alert the FO via email to release the notice attachment when the case is processed.

For electronic disability insurance benefit (eDib) cases, see DI 81020.130B Electronic Case Closure.

Severe impairment did not last 12 months nor was it the cause of death

DIB (Initial or Reconsideration)

Denial

(DDS Jurisdiction)

SSA-831

Complete as usual with the following exceptions:

Item 29 (Ltr. No.): Initial Claim: Enter “L443” and suffix “A”, “Z”, or “C25”.

Reconsideration: Enter “L 928”.

Item 34: Enter decision paragraph from DI 23510.030 Determination Paragraph, Disability Insurance Benefit (DIB) Claim filed after Death (Chart).

Notification

DDS prepares notification and a personalized disability explanation in the third person for release.