What does the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Division of Quality (DQ) Do?
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Division of Quality (DQ) has been around since 2010 and is dedicated to making the disability process smooth, fair, and consistent for all.
The DQ serves a number of important functions. It regularly evaluates a statistically meaningful collection of favorable and un-appealed, hearing-level Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decisions for quality control. It also conducts decision studies focused on specific issues, offices, or subjects involved in the hearing process (for example: ALJs, or doctors).
The reviews yield valuable data that help the DQ determine the most problematic areas of SSA policy and law, which in turn helps the SSA design and implement targeted training ALJs. The DQ strives to foster overall ALJ decisional consistency and compliance with the SSA’s policies and protocols, which ultimately improves the disability process for all involved.