I've been to many a CE Exams, but never knew this. The Electronic Claims Analysis Tool (eCAT)

The electronic claims analysis tool (the “eCAT”) is an internet application that the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) uses. The purpose of the eCat is to document a disability adjudicator’s analysis to ensure that all SSA policies are considered during the disability adjudication process. The goal was to foster uniformity so applicants would be treated the same regardless of where they lived. The eCAT produces a Disability Determination Explanation that documents the detailed analysis and rationale for either allowing or denying a claim. The SSA has been using the eCAT nationwide since 2009.

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If you examine the contents of your file, this would be included and very helpful for your preparation for your ALJ hearing.

The part I thought was surprisingly new, asking treating source to perform CE, I don't think my physchiatrist would have concluded that I didn't do my best on the iq and memory scale test.

Does the eCAT even even apply at this stage of your application?

It was the ALJ that requested the CE, correct? --Not a disability adjudicator.

Here is a link to the original page I believe you're referring to (for anyone that wants to jump in and help): http://iwantmydisability.blogspot.co...-properly.html

Also, please remember what you're reading is an attorney's opinion of application of SS's policy in regards to the facts of his clients case.


Here is SS's policy on CE guidelines.
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/profes...guidelines.htm

You or your legal counsel would need to read your file to determine IF your psychiatrist was contacted to perform the CE or not. You're assuming he/she was not contacted. It is not uncommon for them to turn down the request due to the fee schedule or because they are unfamiliar with SSA's rules. It's not uncommon for them to be contacted by SS and not respond quickly enough.

Since it's an ALJ (I believe) requesting the EC, I'm not sure that she doesn't have greater discretion in ordering an independent CE. This may or may not be noted in the file. She might have questioned the credibility of an earlier report or felt your psychiatrist was not familiar with SS rules, for example. Again, the reason to even order the CE in the first place was because the ALJ apparently felt there was something lacking in your earlier reports. THAT is more important IMO, and your attorney should be able to determine what info is still needed and ask your psychiatrist to provide it.

If you read my above link, it states, "Medical sources who perform CEs must have a good understanding of SSA's disability programs and their evidence requirements." MOST docs are not familiar with either SSI or SSDI and the complex and rather exhaustive rules. Frankly MANY attorneys are not either. --I often recommend that applicants find a former SS employee to represent them when trying to obtain SSI/SSDI benefits because someone like Janke knows SSA's rules backwards and forwards.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but there is no way I know the rules backwards and forwards.

And a former SSA employee or DDS employee may be helpful in getting through the bureaucratic maze (sometimes with limited success), I would want a specialized SSA attorney with years of experience, who would attend my hearing and not hand me off to a staff attorney, and meet with me directly at least twice before my hearing to represent me if my case was at the ODAR level.

I don't get that with binder and binder, I generally get a uninformed person who meets with me one hour before the hearing, they don't like questions, to return calls, just a terrible experience.