Once the application has been successfully filled out and submitted to the Social Security Administration, a disability examiner at the state Disability Determination Agency in concert with a medical doctor, will determine if the claim is valid. If the claim is successful, the applicant will be notified and the process will move on from there.

If the claim is rejected, the applicant may request that their claim be reconsidered. At which point the claim is given to a different disability examiner at the state Disability Determination Agency. If that examiner also rejects the claim, then the applicant has the final option to request an official hearing before a SSA-employed Administrative Law Judge. The applicant will be allowed to attend the hearing in person and the judge will make an independent decision on the claim.