The Division of Disability Determinations determines medical eligibility for Florida citizens who apply for disability benefits under the Social Security Administration disability programs—Social Security Disability-Title II and Supplemental Security Income Title XVI and the state's Medically Needy program.

The Disability Determinations Division has four bureaus and a Quality Assurance Unit.

• Bureau of Medical Disability Administrative Services provides administrative support functions such as budget, finance and accounting, facilities management, human resources management, and security and safety.
• Bureau of Medical Disability Information Services provides administrative oversight and management of all the division's information technology functions such as application development, web publishing, and systems security.
• Bureau of Medical Disability Program Operations is responsible for the processing and adjudication of claims for disability and ensures an effective and efficient workflow to meet the federally and state mandated production, cost, and quality goals.
• Bureau of Medical Disability Program Services coordinates the dissemination of federal and internal policies and procedures. The bureau also processes requests for hearings before administrative law judges in the Social Security Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.
• Quality Assurance Unit ensures that claims are adjudicated accurately. The unit reviews internal claims, analyzes federal review data reports, and conducts specialized studies.

Persons with a disability may apply for Social Security disability benefits at a local Social Security Administration field office or on-line. Applications for the Medically Needy program are made at a local Department of Children and Families office. In both cases, the division evaluates the application to determine medical eligibility.  The division then returns the claim to the Social Security Administration or the Department of Children and Families for a final determination of non-medical eligibility.  If the person is eligible, staff initiates benefits.

The division determines medical disability according to the federal Social Security Administration's criteria and definition of disability. Federal law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of of medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

Florida has one of the largest state disability program in the nation. During Calendar Year 2021, more than 1 million Floridians received federal disability benefits totaling approximately $12.5 billion dollars.

Disability Benefits Awarded by Year
Calendar Year	Number of Recipients	Amount (in Billions)
2015	1,112,835	$12.0
2016	1,105,067	$12.1
2017	1,096,892	$12.2
2018	1,082,342	$12.3
2019	1,071,220	$12.6
2020	1,057,622	$12.6
2021	1,021,080	$12.5
Source: Social Security Administration.

 

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, the division processed 159,041 claims as of week 43, with a projected 192,329 claims for the full Fiscal Year of 52 weeks, below the approved performance standard of 249,608 claims. In addition, the division accurately processed 97.6% of the claims, exceeding the state performance standard of 95.31%. The total determinations completed have decreased because of fewer examiners processing disability cases and the implementation of a new case processing system.

Other Reports
Annual Statistical Supplement 2022, Social Security Administration
Agency Financial Report Fiscal Year 2022, Social Security Administration

Websites of Interest
Social Security Newsletter
Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Title 20 Part 404 and Title 42 Part 442, Code of Federal Regulations, and Ch. 409, and s. 20.43, Florida Statutes

Division of Disability Determinations, 800-499-6590
Website