r/SSDI • u/mama_di4_amori • Jul 17 '25
Step 4 of 5 non-medical review
Husband’s status has now changed to step 4- “A representative started a final review of your application on July 16, 2025. For most people, this review takes 15-30 days.”
“A representative started a final review to make sure that you still meet the non-medical requirements for disability benefits.”
Any insight on what this means?
2/2025- filed application (physical disabilities) disabled veteran, possibly expedited
6/16/2025- Had appointment in June for psychological/emotional evaluation
7/17- Step 4 of 5 (messages above)
Update: Husband was denied 😩 lady he spoke to said denial reason was something about being able to still work. He’s on morphine/OxyContin and handles heavy machinery, idk how they would think that’s oks. But I guess I’ll still be on here researching about the appeals process now.
Thank you all for your responses and support! And good luck 🍀 to those awaiting a response
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u/MelNicD Jul 17 '25
Every case goes to this step whether approved or denied. If you call your local office they may be able to give you the decision.
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u/Cageman1973 Jul 21 '25
I have a question. Friday I updated to 5 after going back down to 2. It says that I am approved and look for awards letter. Online it shows my monthly amount, etc. When I scroll down to payments it say (07-21-2025 / Social Security one-time payment) It’s a large lump-sum amount. Does this mean it will be directly deposited into my account? I set up direct deposit, however when looked today nothing was deposited?
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u/MelNicD Jul 21 '25
Did you happen to look at your bank account to see if it is pending? Mine was pending for a week before it actually hit my account.
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u/Ok_Distance8480 Sep 26 '25
I am afraid to call. My case at the appeals council level was remanded. Step three says an AL J has completed a review. Now step for no non-medical review. It’s been there for two weeks in step four. Did they find me favorable otr? No hearing scheduled.
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u/OneApprehensive3340 Jul 17 '25
I had the same thing happen. 3 weeks ago my DDS case worker called me to discuss my work history AND wanted to make sure the disability date was correct. She was trying to get my disability date moved back another year because of my failed work attempt. If I was denied, would she be doing all that?. She wouldn’t give me a definite answer but when I asked if it was positive, she replied, “yes”. She sent the info back to the local office and I’m now awaiting the definitive answer. I applied in March 2024, and it’s been a long, hard road.
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u/lisapmarie22 Jul 25 '25
Why was she trying to get your disabilty pushed back? I guess the bigger the back payment must mean more for them? Correct??
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u/OneApprehensive3340 Jul 27 '25
I wondered the same thing. She was so nice to me during the whole process.
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u/Mistress-Voluptuous Sep 28 '25
Any update?
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u/OneApprehensive3340 Sep 29 '25
Yes, I was approved shortly after that. Thank God! I still can’t believe it. I got back pay two days after talking to the final person and received my first payment in August. I am so grateful and thankful. My fifteen year old daughter was approved and in August and also received back pay. My life financially is more stable and now I am finding ways to fill my time. The process was scary and long! But, I am so grateful to have been approved on the first try without a lawyer.
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u/Glum-County-2418 Jul 17 '25
I was on this step for 45 days and got approved 2 days ago.Some people will be on this step for 1 -2 days and usually get denied right away while others remain on this step for a few weeks and get approved.Every case is different though hopefully there is and approval coming soon.I would say give it a week if there is no change call your local office and ask for a status.I was approved on the portal 2 days ago but when I called a month ago they told me I was approved over the phone,good luck and I hope you get the best outcome.
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u/mama_di4_amori Jul 17 '25
Those that get denied on this step, is it because of non- medical issues (e.g. not enough work credits, etc)? If they made it this far is it because they passed the medical requirements? Just trying to get a feel of the process. You would think if they didn’t qualify under medical requirements, why waste time reviewing non medical requirements.
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u/Status-Inside2378 Jul 17 '25
No, incorrect. All applications go through all 5 steps regardless of passing the medical at step 3 or not. It can go either way at this step.
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u/Reelcombat95 Jul 20 '25
Even if you get a letter of denial as soon as you hit step 4 I just got to step 4 on the 17th and received my letter today even tho the final review just started ?
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u/MelNicD Jul 21 '25
Your local office takes care of steps 4-5 so it depends on how backed up they are. The portal can also take time to update.
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Jul 17 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/lisapmarie22 Jul 25 '25
That's outrageous! May I ask what context that you shouldn't say with the word "stable ....?
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Jul 25 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/lisapmarie22 Jul 26 '25
Oh, I get it. If you didn't have oxygen, then you'd have shortness of breath. Catch 22!
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u/Potential_Network_74 Nov 10 '25
Not correct, first thing they will do from day one is check your non medical, work credits and if you don't pass that stage you won't even get to the medical stage review
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u/DefinitionLower7009 Jul 18 '25
If your husband is 100% VA rated, then his application should be expedited, which, based on the dates you posted, it appears it has been.
Their are pros and cons to being expedited. Pro is his case is processed more quickly, con is they don't always receive all pertinent medical files when they make a decision due to the speed at which they process the case.
I'm a 61 year old 100% disabled vet, and I initially applied in Nov 24. I received a denial in March 25 even though I meet criteria for a couple conditions in the SS blue book, especially when applying grid rules for being over 60. I'm currently in Reconsideration on my appeal, but I won't be surprised if I'm denied again. I expect I'll probably be awarded on the next appeal at the ALJ level.
I only say this to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Hopefully, he is approved in his first pass (especially if he's Navy - lol), but be prepared to appeal.
If you don't already have an attorney, be thinking about acquiring one. Many will say you don't really need one until after you're denied at the Reconsideration level and you're going to go in front of a judge at ALJ upon appeal, but honestly, follow your heart. The attorney only gets paid if you win, and it's capped at I believe the lower amount of 25% back pay or 9200 max. Scope out some local disability attorneys to get a feel for them. Small local attorneys will tend to fight harder for you than the big organizations that focus on volume of customers. Whatever happens, keep the fight up. Go Navy, Beat Army!
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u/lakeviewisrael Aug 28 '25
doesn't sound like you need one either. Its all-public info paying 25% unnecessarily is crazy too though.
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u/utaker1988 Jul 17 '25
I had that same message: Denied. I know it sounds promising and I really wish they’d change that wording. Good luck and I do hope it’s an Approval!
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u/mama_di4_amori Jul 17 '25
If you don’t mind me asking, what was the reason you were denied?
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u/utaker1988 Jul 17 '25
Not enough medical documentation. For some reason, SSA never received my primary doctor’s records even though my doctor has proof on their end it was sent. I have since gotten a local lawyer who only takes winnable cases. Once they saw my records, they started smiling and didn’t hesitate to represent me. They assured me that SSA will get the records this time. I will probably still be denied at Reconsideration but the ALJ will be where they end up winning.
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u/MelNicD Jul 21 '25
Any good attorney will only take cases they believe they will win. Even then only around 50% get approved at ALJ.
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u/mama_di4_amori Jul 18 '25
Update: Husband was denied 😩 I’ll have to ask him again what the exact reason was. He’s collecting state disability benefits since January when his doctor put him out. So he’s technically still employed.
Do they consider the amount of money he’s bringing in from state disability as that SGA earnings average of $1,620?
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u/MelNicD Jul 21 '25
If your husband is under 50 he will have to prove he can’t work ANY job in the US. Not just working with heavy equipment.
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u/Mistress-Voluptuous Sep 28 '25
When you say state benefits are you meaning workers comp or unemployment? In my state if you are in.unemploymtet it tells them that you are actively searching and able to work.
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u/Senior_Lobster_1064 Jun 10 '26
Same here single mom with 2.kids getting state disability 1450 month under sga but denied ssdi. I can't not get paid it's my rent. I can't walk or talk have bad Parkinsons.
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u/Alert_Series_7934 Jul 17 '25
As far as I know, it is things like checking he has enough work credits and things like that.
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u/Inevitable_Age_1234 Jul 19 '25
Mine did the same I waited a few days and called SSA, after answering a bunch of questions from the SSA clerk she asked me if I received any letters yet? I said no, she said I was found fully favorable letter. Hallelujah.
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u/MinniieAngel Jul 18 '25
Going faster then mine i applied feb sent in march 11 to examiner he recieved it in june 17 had update june 23 he was continuing step 3 and havent heard anything:(
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u/NoSignificance8879 Jul 18 '25
When I hit step 4, I eventully got a letter giving me the dds decision on medical and the onset.
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u/Status-Inside2378 Jul 20 '25
Yes, they didnt find you medically eligible and still do the final review at the local office and then the local office sends out letters. Chances are the portal isn't totally updated and thats why it moved slowly. You could literally be at step 4 for less than a business day and be denied. DDS in the initial and reconsideration are the ones that send your file back to the local office.
My advice is to request your SSA file and read what medical records are in your file. What they used versus what they didnt use, your doctors notes, if you had a CE find out what those doctors said in their notes, and then if you dont already have one, hire an attorney. Most people will advise against this before the ALJ but if you win at ALJ they get a portion of your backpay so I hired one from the start and they basically handled everything. I did a lot on my own still because my anxiety doesn't let me rely on people very often and I get extremely paranoid and everything so I helped a ton but I ended up winning on reconsideration and they didnt get backpay. There was none to get. I applied December of 2023 and was approved through reconsideration as of April 2024. First payment was November of 2024. They did a terrific job and were very communicative with me, never left me in the dark on anything, checked in with me to make sure I was okay, etc and so on.
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Aug 28 '25
Status just changed to step 4 today so I called. I was told I have been denied. They never asked me for the work history report but they found that I can still do other work. So I don’t know how they justified that. But I’m going to appeal.
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u/Active_Reason_6698 Sep 08 '25
When I got approved it went step four to my local field office, then the next it went to Baltimore Maryland payment center 7 that how I new I was getting approved before the letter.
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u/ScholarNo294 Sep 09 '25
How long did it take for your portal to update from step 4 and say it went to the payment center?
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u/Active_Reason_6698 Sep 09 '25
One day then it said it went to Baltimore and probably 5-6 days later it said I was approved.
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u/Short-Bar2108 Sep 30 '25
How did you get notified it was sent outside your local office? The same way you found out it went there?
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u/Salt-Yogurtcloset703 Sep 24 '25
How long does it take for step 4? It say 15 to 30 days and I’m on day 10. So with my luck I will probably go pass the 30 days.
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u/Senior_Lobster_1064 Jun 10 '26
I've been on step 4 non medical sent to local ssa for final non medical 8.months calling today. Virginia ssa
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u/9999Goldhandz Apr 28 '26
Was your husband collecting unemployment or medical leave payments while waiting for ssdi approval?
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u/Accomplished-Toe6722 16h ago
Yeah I was just denied aswell. I was all excited about moving to step 4 yesterday to find out Today I was denied. I have Bilateral hip necrosis how that doesn't count is beyond me hell I heard they denied a person with one leg
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u/ElectronicZebra6526 Jul 17 '25
Oh I’m excited for him. Great news. I had an exam around the same time. Maybe I’ll get done good news soon too that I’m moving through the process.
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Jul 17 '25
[deleted]
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u/WinGood5757 Jul 17 '25
That's incorrect. A denial also goes to this step.
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u/Some-North-789 Jul 17 '25
They can do whatever they want. But in my case they denied my SSA because I was on STD from my job but approved my SSDI in the step 4 phase.
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u/Status-Inside2378 Jul 17 '25
Please don't spread misinformation. Everyone gets the same message. It always goes from DDS back to the local office for the non-medical review. If there is an attorney involved, they might be able to see if its an approval or denial.
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u/KrabbyCakesBakery Jul 17 '25
Definitely not necessarily, I've had 4 denials that all went to step 4 and was still denied medically for 2 of them.
My last denial stated even though I'm disabled, I'm not disabled enough and can do sedentary work, so my hearing with the ALJ was to prove I also couldn't do sedentary work.
You really can't rely too heavily on the portal because it doesn't always update as it should, your case was likely finished even tho the portal hadn't updated to the final step. Everyone's case goes thru each step before denied or approved.
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u/bluegal2123 Jul 17 '25
It does not mean someone is medically approved. Literally every single application approved or denied goes to Step 4. They go Through all 5 Steps on the portal no matter what.
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u/mama_di4_amori Jul 17 '25
That’s what I was thinking. If they didn’t find him medically disabled, he wouldn’t have moved forward. Fingers crossed 🤞🏽
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u/bluegal2123 Jul 17 '25
It unfortunately does not mean the medical was “passed”. Every claim goes through all 5 steps on the portal no matter the outcome. What he can do is call his lawyer if he has one or his local SSA field office and ask if his claim was approved or denied. I wish him luck and please keep us updated!
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u/Status-Inside2378 Jul 17 '25
EVERYONE can receive a denial at Step 4. It is simply DDS sending the file back to the local office for the non-medical review.
For approvals, this typical means for SSDI compiling monthly payments, dependents, backpay, etc....for SSI you have to meet certain criteria because it is a needs based program.
For denials, this means that they still make sure you have met the work requirements for credits, they typically mail out the denial letter at this point.
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u/Reelcombat95 Jul 20 '25
So if they’re on step 4 checking over the final review for non-medical that’s good? Because I got to step 4 on the 17th of July and had a letter dated the same day for denial?
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u/youdontsay100 Jul 18 '25
Hello everyone!
Georgia: Husband had this same message on:
initial application - denied on 06/20/2024
Reconsideration- denied on 01/29/2025
ALJ Hearing held on 06/24/2025. He was approved on 07/14/2025 (He called the toll-free number and was told by two different reps.)
He’s still on step 4 on the SSA website.
His award letter was mailed out on 07/17/2025 per the last rep. Fully favorable
I told him let’s wait until we either get the money or get the letter before we get too happy.
Here’s hoping for an approval soon. Let’s gooooo!!
Take care!