TERI Case (Terminal Illness)

A TERI case is a claim flagged under SSA's terminal illness procedures for expedited handling. A claim receives the TERI designation when the medical condition is untreatable and expected to result in death, for example hospice enrollment, ALS, AIDS, certain aggressive cancers, or awaiting a major organ transplant.

TERI flags can be added by field office staff, the state DDS, or hearing office personnel at any stage, based on the claimant's statement, a physician's note, or other evidence; the word terminal never appears on notices sent to the claimant. TERI cases are processed ahead of other claims at every step, and examiners are instructed to use the fastest available means to obtain records. Family members can help by alerting SSA to hospice involvement.