The Division of Disability Determinations determines medical eligibility for Florida citizens who apply for disability benefits under the Social Security Act disability programs—Social Security Disability (OASDI-Title II) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI-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, and human resources management.
• 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 directs and coordinates claims processing in eight area offices to ensure 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 performs reviews of evaluated claims, reviews federal data reports and conducts specialized studies. These activities support the division and its compliance with federal standards.

Persons with a disability may apply for Social Security disability benefits at a local Department of Health area office or on-line. Applications for the Medically Needy program are made at a local Department of Children and Families office or on-line. 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 by reason of any 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 not less than 12 months.

Florida has one of the largest state disability program in the nation. During Calendar Year 2019, more than 1 million Floridians received federal disability benefits totaling approximately $12.6 billion dollars.  

Disability Benefits Awarded by Year
Calendar Year	Number of Recipients	Amount (in Billions)
2014	1,106,705	$11.7
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
Source:  Social Security Administration.

In Fiscal Year 2019-20, the division processed 239,622 claims for the period, below the approved performance standard of 249,608 claims. In addition, the division accurately processed 96.8% of the claims, exceeding the state performance standard of 95.31%. The total determinations completed have decreased 15.95%, primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic constraints, including the Social Security Administration's suspension of non-critical workloads and the inability to obtain timely medical evidence.

Other Reports
Annual Statistical Supplement 2020, Social Security Administration.
Agency Financial Report Fiscal Year 2020, 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, Code of Federal Regulations,Title 42 Part 442, Code of Federal Regulations, and Ch. 409, and s. 20.43, Florida Statutes.

Division of Disability Determinations, 800-499-6590

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