Section 870.20  Services Provided by the Disability Assistance Unit

a)         The Disability Assistance Unit (DAU) will assist the claimant in processing the disability claim, upon request, through the following actions:

1)         Explaining the Social Security Administration disability determination process;

2)         Explaining legal rulings which affect that process;

3)         Making travel/lodging arrangements necessary for consultative examinations and vocational evidence development;

4)         Investigating and resolving delays in case processing;

5)         Referring claimants to social service agencies.

b)         The DAU will operate a toll-free telephone hotline to answer questions, hear complaints, and provide assistance to Illinois residents in pursuing disability claims.

c)         The DAU will keep a file of records of suspected child abuse/neglect reported by the Bureau according to the regulations set forth by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 23, pars. 2051 et seq.).

d)         The DAU will report, to the Department on Aging, instances of abuse of elderly persons, as defined by the Department on Aging's rules at 89 Ill. Adm. Code 250.120, and will report, to the Department of Public Health, instances of abuse in long-term care facilities in accordance with the Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 111½, par. 4161 et seq.).

e)         The DAU will intervene in claimant crises involving suicide or other threats of violence by employing methods learned in crisis intervention training and by notifying authorities and family members as indicated by the situation.

f)         The DAU will operate a Voice/Telecommunication Device for the Deaf to assist adjudicators in communicating with disability claimants with hearing impairments.

g)         The DAU will publicize the existence of their service to the general public and professional, community, and advocacy groups through the media, informational brochures, and correspondence to claimants.

h)         The DAU will respond to federal, state, and local public official inquiries in keeping with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) P.L. 93-579, the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552 added by P.L. 90-23 and amended by P.L. 93-502 and P.L. 94-409) and the guidelines set forth in the Program Operations Manual DI 30500.000 as amended January 1989.

(Source:  Amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 20122, effective December 11, 1989)