Maryland Disability Determination Services
A Division of the Maryland State Department of Education and
Division of Rehabilitation Services
DDS NEWSLETTER
Fall 2011
This newsletter is to provide information regarding
Social Security Disability benefits and to help the education community
understand the important role they play in the program
WHO IS DDS?
The Disability Determination Services
(DDS) is a unit of the Maryland State
Department of Education and is
responsible for making the medical determination
on claims filed for Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) benefits by Maryland residents.
The SSI program provides both a cash benefit and
medical assistance to financially eligible children
with severe physical and/or mental impairments.
School records and teacher observations provide
important information in the disability determination
process, so it is important for the DDS to obtain this
critical documentation.
TEACHER’S QUESTIONNAIRE
The teacher’s questionnaire is a vital tool in helping
the DDS make accurate decisions regarding a
child’s eligibility for SSI. Your observations can
provide a better understanding of a child’s daily
functioning. Even when the form is completed
showing the child is working within his or her
normal peer range, it helps the DDS make a fair
and appropriate decision.
The Social Security Administration
(SSA) offers a downloadable
teacher’s questionnaire on-line at
http://www.ssa.gov/SSA-5665.rtf
Please fax the completed questionnaire to
1-866-891-7952. Please make sure you are using
the barcode page as your fax cover page.
INFORMATION WE NEED
FROM YOU
The DDS relies upon school records and
the professional expertise of educational
personnel to obtain evidence about how a
school aged child is functioning. When
investigating a child’s SSI claim, the DDS
must compare how a child functions at
home, at school, and in the community to
better understand the significance of the
limitations he or she may have. The DDS
needs the following information:
Teacher Comments
IEP Reports
Disciplinary Actions
Psychological Reports/Testing
Report Cards
Suspension Notices
Therapeutic Interventions
All of your observations and comments are
helpful in making the correct determination
of disability, even if you describe the child
as functioning at age appropriate levels.
SUBMITTING RECORDS
The DDS can receive
school records by:
We are dependent
on support from
you and your
staff to help
children who are
applying for
disability benefits.
ELECTRONIC RECORDS EXPRESS
(ERE) WEBSITE
FACSIMILE
MAIL
H
Electronic Records Express (ERE) is
an initiative by state DDS offices and
Social Security Administration (SSA) to
increase the use of electronic options for
submitting student records related to
disability claims. ERE means faster
disability decisions for your students and
lower costs for your school.
Schools are also capable of receiving the
school records request electronically via
the ERE secure website. If your school
keeps electronic records, you may choose
to receive requests for records and submit
those records using the secure website. It
is as easy as sending an email.
If your school does not keep electronic
records, you have an option of receiving
the requests for records and submitting
those records using a facsimile. This
option requires a dedicated fax line.
For more information regarding our
convenient and secure electronic
initiatives, you can visit the following
Social Security website:
T
N
A
S
K
We appreciate your assistance,
valuable time, and support.
If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact us.
E. Caroline Mason-Medical Relations Director
[email protected]
410-308-4336
Jessica Eifert-Medical Relations Supervisor
[email protected]
410-308-4338
Bash Kamara-ERE Specialist
[email protected]
410-308-4353
Cindi Cannon-IT Functional Analyst
[email protected]
410-308-4349
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10047.pdf
You may also contact our ERE specialist,
Bash Kamara at 410-308-4353
Kathy McNelly-Administrative Aide
[email protected]
410-308-4335