Getting that letter and having to go through SSI professionals is standard. They don't leave claims for disability strickly up to the persons own professionals. By having reports from both your side and the SSI agency side the deturmination of eligability is more neutral and objective and most times goes through with no problem at all when done this way.

SSI tends to stall deturminations where the client is refusing to do the testing by SSI approved professionals because they do more in dept digging into the persons life trying to find out what that person is trying to hide by not being willing to go through the complete testing proceedures. They have been known for sending their workers out in the field to vidio tape that person placing the claim also for varification when they suspect it is a fraudulant claim. Many of these films have found their way onto the oprah and other talk show networks as a way to prevent fraud on any kind of insurance and state services fraud. They don't do this every time mind you but it does happen. Also with the "baby boomers" coming up on retirement Social security is being much stricter on their requirements.

Basically by sending that letter they are telling you they want more info This could mean that they don't have enough evidence to put your claim through as approved so they are giving you the chance to add more infor to the claim by seeing their professionals. Another reason why they want you to see one of their approved specialists is so that they will have to pay for it. It won't come out of your pocket. Comprehensive psychological evaluations are quite expensive because at least two of the tests given (the MMPI 2 and the other one I can't remember the name of right off hand) are computerized and must be sent out to be scored.

I have gone through many many of these Comprehesive Psychological evaluations. One was in fact to get my SSDI grant that I have now. and this was at least 20 years ago.

You can find the info that is included in the standard evaluation process in my blog under the title how is DID diagnosed. The only difference in a normal eval vs one to diagnose DID is the DDIS, DES and a couple other tests are not given for the standard of diagnosing bipolar, Schizoprenic varieties, narcessitic and so on. The MMPI 2 tests for the top 7 - 13 mental disorders except DID. That is why they use the DDIS, DES and a couple others when the claims are based on having DID.

It isn't manditory that you do this but the fact that they sent you the letter you can safely assume based on what they already have you will most likely be denied. They are giving you this chance to update and add to the info they already have.

When I was given this chance I did it. Someone I knew when she got her letter did not do it. I was approved she was denied and she has paid mega bucks for lawyers and so on and still was denied.

If this was me I would definately do it. it can't hurt your case but it can help it by doing it. by not doing it it can and most likely will hurt your claim.