[Federal Register: July 31, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 147)] [Notices] [Page 40946] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr31jy98-109] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Testing Modifications to the Disability Determination Procedures; Federal Processing Center Testing AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA). ACTION: Notice of the continuation of testing involving modifications to the disability determination procedures. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: SSA is announcing the continuation of testing that it has been conducting under the current rules at 20 CFR 404.906, 404.943, 404.966, 416.1406, 416.1443, and 416.1466. Those rules authorize the testing of several modifications to the disability determination procedures that we normally follow in adjudicating claims for disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (the Act) and claims for supplemental security income (SSI) payments based on disability under title XVI of the Act. This notice announces the continuation of testing in a federal processing center. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Pippin, Disability Models Team Leader, Office of Disability, Disability Process Redesign Staff, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, 410-965-9203. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current regulations at 20 CFR 404.906, 404.943, 404.966, 416.1406, 416.1443, and 416.1466 authorize us to test different modifications to the disability determination procedures. We have described the use of four features of the testing modifications to the disability determination procedures as the full process model. Those modifications are: the use of a single decisionmaker who may make the disability determination without requiring the signature of a medical consultant; the conducting of a predecisional interview in which a claimant, for whom SSA does not have sufficient information to make a fully favorable determination or for whom the evidence would require an initial determination denying the claim, can present additional information to the decisionmaker before an initial determination is made; the elimination of the reconsideration step in the administrative review process; and the use of an adjudication officer who will conduct prehearing procedures and, if appropriate, will issue a decision wholly favorable to the claimant. We incorporated an additional modification to the integrated model on September 23, 1997 (62 CFR 49598). This fifth modification is the elimination of the step in the appeals process that permits a claimant to request review by the Appeals Council of an administrative law judge decision. On April 4, 1997, we published in the Federal Register a notice that testing of the full process model would take place at the Social Security Administration's Western Program Service Center in Richmond, California. Selection of cases for that testing was to begin on or about April 28, 1997, and was to continue for approximately one year with cases processed for an additional six months. We stated that we might choose to extend the duration of the test to obtain additional data, and that we would publish another notice in the Federal Register if we decided to extend the duration. We are now announcing that testing in the Western Program Service Center, 2121 Nevin Avenue, Richmond, California, 94802 will be extended for one additional year to obtain further data. As we announced on April 4, 1997, the test in Richmond involves claims by individuals who wish to file by telephone. These cases will be referred to the Western Program Service Center by teleservice centers that service residents of Arizona. We will continue to select cases for approximately one year, and may continue to have cases processed for an additional six months. We may add other Federal sites later. If we add other Federal Register identifying the added sites. This test will combine the five process modifications mentioned above, plus two features designed to maximize the resources of a Federal processing center: having a two-person team complete the application interview by telephone; and effectuating, in the processing center, the payment of benefits to claimants who are found disabled. The adjudication officers under this model will process cases as they are doing in those states in which that feature is being tested separately. (Refer to 20 CFR 404.943 and 416.1443.) The single decisionmakers will process cases as single decisionmakers are doing in those States in which that feature is being tested separately (see 20 CFR 404.906(b)(2) and 416.1406(b)(2)), except that the single decisionmakers in this model also will assist in the claims interview and will offer a predecisional interview to a claimant for whom a fully favorable determination cannot be made based on the initial information obtained. If a claimant is dissatisfied with the initial determination, he or she may appeal directly to an administrative law judge. The adjudication officer will be the claimant's primary point of contact before a hearing is held with an administrative law judge. Claims authorizers will participate in the telephone claims interview and will effectuate payment to claimants who are found disabled. Dated: July 13, 1998. Susan M. Daniels, Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs. [FR Doc. 98-20428 Filed 7-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4190-29-P