11. What is the Disability Evaluation Service (DES)?

The Disability Evaluation Service or DES is a unit of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Disability Evaluation Services (DES)

333 South Street,

Shrewsbury, MA 01545

Tel: 800-888-3420 or 888-497-9890

Fax: 774-455-8153

https://commed.umassmed.edu/centers-programs/disability-evaluation-services

DES decides if your impairment(s) meet the EAEDC disability requirements. DES staff includes doctors, nurses and vocational examiners. However, in our experience, most of the evaluations are done by nurses. In addition to the EAEDC regulations, DES has Procedural Standards which guide its decision-making process.

The Procedural Standards are posted at https://www.masslegalservices.org/library/directory/benefits/dta-policies-materials/dta-disability-procedures.

Advocacy Reminder:

• If you want to give permission to an advocate to find out information from DES about your disability review, you will need to sign a DES Authorization to Release Information form. You can find the current form at https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/ps-16-2-request-access-personal-health-care-information-phi-des-authorization-release.