I-3-1-5.Critical Case Procedures

Last Update: 7/23/15 (Transmittal I-3-120)

A. General

The Office of Appellate Operations (OAO) determines a case is “critical” and requires special processing in the following situations:

1. Terminal Illness (TERI)

A case is designated critical when the claimant's illness is alleged or identified as terminal. TERI cases are identified by:

  • The case characteristic TERI in the Appeals Review Processing System (ARPS); and

  • A “TERI Case” flag in eView or the paper file (form SSA-2200 for paper files).

For more information on what situations or conditions field offices (FO) and Disability Determination Services (DDS) use to designate a TERI case, see Program Operations Manual System (POMS) DI 11005.601C and DI 23020.045B.

NOTE:

The presence of TERI criteria does not mandate a finding of disability. An adjudicator must evaluate the claim under the sequential evaluation process.

2. Veteran 100 Percent Permanent and Total (VPAT)

A case is designated critical when the claimant has received a 100 percent permanent and total (100% P&T) disability compensation rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These cases can be identified by:

  • The case characteristic VPAT in ARPS; and

  • A “100% P&T” flag in a paper case, or in an electronic case, by the “100% P&T” special handling flag in eView.

NOTE 1:

Critical case procedures do not apply to claimants with a 100% P&T disability pension (as opposed to “disability compensation”) rating from the VA.

A VPAT designation is added after SSA receives verification that a claimant has a 100% P&T disability compensation rating from the VA. SSA receives verification in one of the following ways:

  • Through a data match from the VA (for more information, see POMS DI 11005.007); or

  • From a claimant who submits a VA notification letter verifying a 100% P&T rating (see POMS DI 23020.055).

NOTE 2:

When a VA data match identifies a claim for VPAT processing, the claim is given expedited processing even if other information suggests the data match was incorrect.

NOTE 3:

OAO staff will process VPAT cases using the same instructions used for TERI cases. The presence of a 100% P&T disability compensation rating does not mandate a finding of disability. An adjudicator must evaluate the claim under the sequential evaluation process.

NOTE 4:

No expedited actions are required for continuing disability review claims, even if identified and flagged as VPAT through the data match.

3. Military Casualty/Wounded Warrior (MC/WW)

A case is designated critical when the claim involves any current or former member of a military service, who:

  • Sustained an illness, injury, or wound;

  • Is alleging a physical or mental impairment, regardless of how the impairment occurred or where it occurred (i.e., United States or on foreign soil); and

  • Sustained the impairment while on active duty status on or after October 1, 2001.

For more information, see POMS DI 11005.003.

Generally, the FO will identify and designate a MC/WW case, but an MC/WW case can be identified at any point in the process. OAO staff can identify a MC/WW case by:

  • The case characteristic “MCWW” in ARPS; and

  • A special “MC/WW” flag, found at POMS DI 11005.006, in a paper case, or in an electronic case, by the “Military Casualty” flag in eView.

4. Compassionate Allowances (CAL)

The CAL process identifies diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments (20 CFR Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Part 404—Listing of Impairments). For more information about the CAL initiative, see POMS DI 11005.604.

Most CAL cases are identified at the initial level of adjudication, but a new condition that develops later can also qualify for CAL processing. Subsequent identification, including at the Appeals Council (AC), may be based solely on a claimant's allegation or on new medical evidence of a condition included on the CAL list of impairments. The ARPS case characteristic will be added on any CAL case upon receipt or when identified by OAO staff.

CAL cases are identified by:

  • The case characteristic CAL in ARPS; and

  • A “CAL = Y” flag in eView.

NOTE:

Fully paper cases are not automatically considered for CAL status, because the CAL screening tool can only filter cases electronically transferred between the FO and the DDS. However, if CAL is discovered on review of a claim or when additional evidence is received, the case is designated CAL in ARPS, and critical case procedures apply. In paper cases, attach the “Critical Case/Dire Need” flag (Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual I-3-1-7) with CAL clearly designated on the front of the folder.

5. Dire Need (DRND)

A dire need situation exists when a claimant alleges the following circumstances:

  • The claimant is without food and is unable to obtain it.

  • The claimant lacks medicine or medical care and is unable to obtain it, or the claimant indicates that access to necessary medical care is restricted because of a lack of resources.

  • The claimant lacks shelter (e.g., without utilities such that his or her home is uninhabitable, homelessness, expiration of a shelter stay, or imminent eviction or foreclosure with no means to remedy the situation or obtain shelter).

Absent evidence to the contrary, accept a person's allegation that he or she does not have enough income or resources to meet an immediate threat to his or her health or safety. OAO employees will err on the side of designating the case critical. If a dire need situation becomes non-critical, the critical designation can be removed or modified. See subsection B.2. below.

OAO staff may identify a Dire Need case by:

  • The case characteristic DRND in ARPS; and

  • A “Critical Case/Dire Need” flag (HALLEX I-3-1-7) in a paper case or by the “Dire Need” flag in eView in an electronic case.

6. Potentially Violent

OAO staff may designate a case as critical if there is an indication that the claimant is suicidal, homicidal, or potentially violent. See instructions in HALLEX I-1-9-15.

OAO staff may identify a potentially violent case by:

  • The case characteristic SUIC or HOMC in ARPS; and

  • A “Critical Case” flag (HALLEX I-3-1-7) in a paper case or, in an electronic case, by the “Homicidal/Potential Violent or Suicide Threat” flag in eView.

7. Inordinate Delay

OAO may designate a case as critical if there has been an inordinate delay in processing the case and there is a public, congressional, or other high priority inquiry on the case. The Claimant and Public Assistance Branch (CPAB) uses current OAO workload data to determine the “inordinate delay” timeframe. OAO staff may identify these cases by the case characteristic DLAY in ARPS.

B. Critical Case Designation

1. Adding Critical Case Designation

CPAB is responsible for designating critical cases and monitoring the OAO pending critical case workload. OAO branch chiefs (BC) are responsible for ensuring that critical cases pending within a branch are promptly processed.

If a BC or other staff identifies a case that should be designated critical, the BC will add a critical case characteristic in ARPS and assign the case for immediate processing. However, the BC must also notify CPAB via email to ^DCARO OAO CPAB so that CPAB can track the case.

NOTE:

Due to firewall and privacy issues, CPAB will not reply by email to members of the public. If CPAB receives an email from a member of the public, CPAB will respond to the individual by telephone.

2. Removing Critical Case Designation

Critical case characteristics entered at the hearing level will automatically pass to ARPS if the case characteristic was open at the time the hearing level case was closed. However, the basis for the critical case designation may no longer be present. Additionally, OAO staff may mistakenly identify a case as critical when it does not meet the criteria. In these situations, the critical case designation may need to be removed.

NOTE 1:

If the erroneous critical case designation is identified after an analyst has already reviewed the case, the analyst may notify the BC so that the designation may be removed. However, the analyst will continue processing the case.

A CPAB manager may remove a critical designation when the condition(s) for the critical designation no longer applies. If a BC or staff identifies a case in which the critical case designation should be removed, the BC will close the critical case characteristic in ARPS and notify CPAB via email to ^DCARO OAO CPAB. In situations where the basis for the critical case designation is not clear, the BC will consult with a CPAB manager before closing the case characteristic.

NOTE 2:

For situations when it may be appropriate to remove a CAL designation, see POMS DI 23022.055D.

3. Monitoring Cases Designated as Critical

When a case characteristic is entered at either the hearing or AC levels, and the case characteristic is not closed, the case will appear on the S20 report in the AMICUS Report Menu. The S20 report provides an up-to-date listing of all pending OAO cases in which there is at least one open critical case characteristic. CPAB staff and BCs must monitor the report on a regular basis to ensure that all critical cases receive prompt attention and processing.

C. Branch Case Processing

1. Assigning the Case

On receipt of a case designated as critical, the BC will ensure the appropriate flags are noted in ARPS and in eView or the paper file. The BC will immediately assign the case and advise CPAB of any delays in processing.

2. Notifying FO

Additionally, for TERI and CAL cases first identified in the branch, the BC must immediately notify the FO to begin non-medical development. To notify the FO, the BC will send an e-mail to [State Abbreviation] FO [City] and will document the contact in an SSA-5002 Report of Contact. The BC will also add a “remark” in ARPS indicating that he or she notified the FO.

In the event the critical designation is later removed or the AC denies the claim, the BC will immediately notify the FO via email.

3. AC Final Action

a. Fully or Partially Favorable Decision

The BC must notify CPAB when the AC issues a fully or partially favorable decision in a TERI, VPAT, MC/WW, or CAL case by sending an email to ^DCARO OAO CPAB.

When the AC issues a fully or partially favorable decision after a court remand, see HALLEX I-4-0-30.

b. Denial, Dismissal, or Unfavorable Decision

The BC must notify CPAB when the AC action is unfavorable by sending an email to ^DCARO OAO CPAB. OAO staff will follow normal procedures when releasing the final action document.

When the AC issues an unfavorable action after a court remand, see HALLEX I-4-0-30.

c. Remand

The BC must notify CPAB when the AC remands a critical case to an administrative law judge (ALJ). The AC will expedite standard procedures for releasing the remand order and when a paper claim(s) file is involved, forward the claim(s) file(s) to the hearing office by the most expeditious means practical (e.g., express mail). For paper TERI, VPAT, MC/WW, and CAL cases, clearly annotate all transmittals and envelopes “TERI,” “VPAT,” “MCWW,” or “CAL” case.

When the AC remands to an ALJ after a court remand, see HALLEX I-4-0-30.