81 FR 58544 - Modifications to the Disability Determination Procedures; Extension of Testing of Some Disability Redesign Features
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 165 (August 25, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 165 (August 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 58544-58544 | |
| FR Document | 2016-20253 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Page 58544] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-20253] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION [Docket No. SSA-2016-0022] Modifications to the Disability Determination Procedures; Extension of Testing of Some Disability Redesign Features AGENCY: Social Security Administration. ACTION: Notice of the extension of tests involving modifications to the disability determination procedures. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We are announcing the extension of tests involving modifications to disability determination procedures authorized by 20 CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. These rules authorize us to test several modifications to the disability determination procedures for adjudicating claims for disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (Act) and for supplemental security income payments based on disability under title XVI of the Act. This notice is our last extension of the ``single decisionmaker'' test, as we will phase out the test until elimination in 2018. This notice also extends the separate ``prototype'' test. DATES: We are extending our selection of cases to be included in these tests from September 23, 2016 until no later than December 28, 2018. At that time, we will publish another notice in the Federal Register to confirm our elimination of the ``single decisionmaker'' test. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Williams, Office of Disability Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, (410) 965-0608, for information about this notice. For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778, or visit our Internet site, Social Security Online, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Our current rules authorize us to test, individually or in any combination, certain modifications to the disability determination procedures. 20 CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. We conducted several tests under the authority of these rules. In the ``single decisionmaker'' test, a disability examiner may make the initial disability determination in most cases without obtaining the signature of a medical or psychological consultant. Currently, 19 states and the territory of Guam use the single decisionmaker test. There are 9 states and the territory of Guam that use single decisionmaker as a stand-alone test. The remaining 10 states use single decisionmaker in combination with a separate test that we refer to as ``prototype.'' Under section 832 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA),\1\ we are required to end the single decisionmaker test. Therefore, this extension of the single decisionmaker test will provide us the time necessary to take all of the administrative actions needed to reinstate uniform use of medical and psychological consultants. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Public Law 114-74, 129 Stat. 584, 613. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prototype is a separate test, which we conduct in 10 States. 64 FR 47218. Currently, the prototype combines the single decisionmaker approach described above with the elimination of the reconsideration level of our administrative review process. We will continue to make decisions in these 10 States by maintaining the elimination of the reconsideration level, except that we will comply with the requirements of the BBA by reinstating the use of medical consultants over the course of this extension in those States with the prototype tests. We will notify the public of the progression of our plan through additional notices in the Federal Register. We extended the period for selecting claims for these tests several times. Most recently, we extended the period from September 25, 2015 to September 23, 2016. 80 FR 47553. We are extending case selection for prototype and single decision maker tests until December 28, 2018. After this date, we will publish another notice in the Federal Register to confirm our elimination of the single decisionmaker test. Virginia Reno, Deputy Commissioner for Retirement and Disability Policy. [FR Doc. 2016-20253 Filed 8-24-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
![58544 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 165 / Thursday, August 25, 2016 / Notices
areas under supervision of program RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES 1–800–325–0778, or visit our Internet
personnel. Access to these areas is Individual customers who request site, Social Security Online, at http://
limited to authorized personnel, who Informed DeliveryTM notification www.socialsecurity.gov.
must be identified with a badge. Access service; USPS.com account holders; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Our
to records is limited to individuals other USPS systems and applications current rules authorize us to test,
whose official duties require such including those that support online individually or in any combination,
access. Contractors and licensees are change of address, mail hold services, certain modifications to the disability
subject to contract controls and Premium Forwarding Service or PO determination procedures. 20 CFR
unannounced on-site audits and Boxes Online; commercial entities, 404.906 and 416.1406. We conducted
inspections. Computers are protected by including commercial mailers or other several tests under the authority of these
mechanical locks, card key systems, or Postal Service business partners and rules. In the ‘‘single decisionmaker’’
other physical access control methods. third-party mailing list providers. test, a disability examiner may make the
The use of computer systems is * * * * * initial disability determination in most
regulated with installed security cases without obtaining the signature of
software, computer logon Stanley F. Mires,
a medical or psychological consultant.
identifications, and operating system Attorney, Federal Compliance. Currently, 19 states and the territory of
controls including access controls, [FR Doc. 2016–20189 Filed 8–24–16; 8:45 am] Guam use the single decisionmaker test.
terminal and transaction logging, and BILLING CODE 7710–12–P There are 9 states and the territory of
file management software. Online data Guam that use single decisionmaker as
transmissions are protected by a stand-alone test. The remaining 10
encryption. Access is controlled by SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION states use single decisionmaker in
logon ID and password. Online data combination with a separate test that we
transmissions are protected by [Docket No. SSA–2016–0022]
refer to as ‘‘prototype.’’ Under section
encryption. Modifications to the Disability 832 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
Determination Procedures; Extension (BBA),1 we are required to end the
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL
of Testing of Some Disability Redesign single decisionmaker test. Therefore,
Mailpiece images will be retained up Features this extension of the single
to 7 days (mailpiece images are not decisionmaker test will provide us the
associated with personally identifiable AGENCY: Social Security Administration. time necessary to take all of the
information). Records stored in the ACTION: Notice of the extension of tests administrative actions needed to
subscription database are retained until involving modifications to the disability reinstate uniform use of medical and
the customer cancels or opts-out of the determination procedures. psychological consultants.
service. Prototype is a separate test, which we
User data is retained for 2 years, 11 SUMMARY: We are announcing the conduct in 10 States. 64 FR 47218.
months. extension of tests involving Currently, the prototype combines the
Records existing on computer storage modifications to disability single decisionmaker approach
media are destroyed according to the determination procedures authorized by described above with the elimination of
applicable USPS media sanitization 20 CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. These the reconsideration level of our
practice. Any records existing on paper rules authorize us to test several administrative review process. We will
will be destroyed by burning, pulping, modifications to the disability continue to make decisions in these 10
or shredding. determination procedures for States by maintaining the elimination of
adjudicating claims for disability the reconsideration level, except that we
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS insurance benefits under title II of the will comply with the requirements of
Vice President, New Products and Social Security Act (Act) and for the BBA by reinstating the use of
Innovation, United States Postal supplemental security income payments medical consultants over the course of
Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW., based on disability under title XVI of this extension in those States with the
Washington, DC 20260 the Act. This notice is our last extension prototype tests. We will notify the
of the ‘‘single decisionmaker’’ test, as public of the progression of our plan
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE we will phase out the test until through additional notices in the
Customers wanting to know if elimination in 2018. This notice also Federal Register.
extends the separate ‘‘prototype’’ test. We extended the period for selecting
information about them is maintained in
DATES: We are extending our selection claims for these tests several times. Most
this system of records must address
of cases to be included in these tests recently, we extended the period from
inquiries in writing to the system
from September 23, 2016 until no later September 25, 2015 to September 23,
manager. Inquiries must contain name,
than December 28, 2018. At that time, 2016. 80 FR 47553. We are extending
address, email and other identifying case selection for prototype and single
information. we will publish another notice in the
Federal Register to confirm our decision maker tests until December 28,
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES elimination of the ‘‘single 2018. After this date, we will publish
decisionmaker’’ test. another notice in the Federal Register to
Requests for access must be made in confirm our elimination of the single
accordance with the Notification FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
decisionmaker test.
Procedure above and USPS Privacy Act Kenneth Williams, Office of Disability
regulations regarding access to records Policy, Social Security Administration, Virginia Reno,
and verification of identity under 39 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD Deputy Commissioner for Retirement and
CFR 266.6. 21235–6401, (410) 965–0608, for Disability Policy.
information about this notice. For [FR Doc. 2016–20253 Filed 8–24–16; 8:45 am]
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES information on eligibility or filing for BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
See Notification Procedure and benefits, call our national toll-free
Record Access Procedures above. number, 1–800–772–1213 or TTY 1 Public Law 114–74, 129 Stat. 584, 613.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:54 Aug 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\25AUN1.SGM 25AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_58709/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2016-08-25 00:35:20
Document Modified: 2016-08-25 00:35:20
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of the extension of tests involving modifications to the disability determination procedures. | |
| Dates | We are extending our selection of cases to be included in these tests from September 23, 2016 until no later than December 28, 2018. At that time, we will publish another notice in the Federal Register to confirm our elimination of the ``single decisionmaker'' test. | |
| Contact | Kenneth Williams, Office of Disability Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, (410) 965-0608, for information about this notice. For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778, or visit our Internet site, Social Security Online, at http:// www.socialsecurity.gov. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 58544 |
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