Disability Determination Services (DDS) are state level agencies, funded by the U.S. federal government, that examine the claims for Social Security disability benefits. DDS assesses whether a claimant is medically disabled to the point where he or she is incapable of performing any kind of work. In many states, the agency is known by names other than Disability Determination Services. For example, the agency is called the Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) in Pennsylvania.
In order to determine a claimant's eligibility for receiving Social Security disability benefits, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) sends the claims to Disability Determination Services (DDS) for examination. To determine a claimant's medical eligibility for receiving Social Security disability benefits, DDS employs disability claims examiners. The disability claims examiners go through medical records, disability files, and other details in order to assess whether or not a claimant meets the requirements.